Many of us have been affected by a  loved one, a family member, or a close friend who finds himself or herself in trouble and needing help. Here are some statistics, gathered from government data, addiction centers, national surveys, and health organizations: 

• 1 in 6 Americans report that they “drink too much,” while 1 in 20 say they have problems with extreme drinking. 
• 1 in 38 Americans have an eating disorder. One out of 10 are men; 9 out of 10 are women. 
• 1 in 43 Americans have a gambling problem. 
• 1 in 15 Americans regularly use illicit substances. 
• 1 in 20 Americans are currently dealing with depression. 
• 1 in 5 American adults smoke cigarettes.
• 1 in 13 Americans suffer from an unhealthy Internet dependency.

There are a number of reasons why people do harmful things to themselves, including peer pressure, stress, boredom, thrill seeking, depression, adolescent rebellion, family breakups, economic stress, relief from emotional or physical pain, and being out of touch with one’s own spiritual balance and inner harmony. If a drug like alcohol, cocaine, or tobacco is involved, and you ask people why they do it, they will give you different answers.

Should one help, or should one walk away and mind your own business?  This is a difficult question.  You may want to help, but you may not want to intrude.

If you can’t decide what to do, I can help you make the best decision for you and your loved one.