CLASSICS REVISITED: When Your Loved One Uses Multiple SubstancesCLASSICS REVISITED: When Your Loved One Uses Multiple Substances
Coming Up for Air — Families Speak to Families about Addiction
The conversation explains how families can use CRAFT’s functional analysis to respond more effectively when a loved one uses multiple substances. The hosts stress starting small, choosing one substance to focus on and adjusting family responses to support change over time.
33:57•31 Jul 2026
One Substance at a Time: Making CRAFT Work When Your Loved One Uses Many Drugs
Episode Overview
- Use functional analysis to examine what happens before, during and after each substance your loved one uses, treating each substance pattern separately.
- Select one substance to focus on first – often the most dangerous or most consequential – instead of trying to change everything at once.
- When your loved one is using, about to use, or withdrawing, step back, stay neutral, remove rewards and allow safe natural consequences.
- When they are not using, step in with warmth, attention and small rewards to reinforce non-use and positive connection.
- Set specific, measurable and time-limited goals for your own behaviour, reflect on what went well and what needs tweaking, and adjust gradually over time.
“Narrow it down, narrow it down, narrow it down. Find that one thing, that very specific thing that you're going to work on.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation from Coming Up for Air zooms in on one of the trickiest situations families face: when a loved one uses several substances in different ways throughout the week. Laurie McDougal, Kayla Solomon and Dominique Simone Levine gently guide families through a practical tool from CRAFT called “functional analysis” – or as Kayla puts it, simply asking: what happens just before, during and after your loved one uses?
Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, they suggest treating yourself like a careful observer, almost a scientist, watching patterns unfold with each substance. Using a real example of a young man who smokes cannabis daily, takes prescribed Adderall and binges on cocaine, they show how families can map out each pattern and then, crucially, pick **one** substance to focus on first. As Dominique explains, trying to respond to all three at once will tie families “into a pretzel”.
Laurie keeps repeating the mantra: “Narrow it down, narrow it down, narrow it down,” so goals stay specific, manageable and measurable. You’ll hear them wrestle with which drug to address first – the Adderall that precedes binges or the cocaine that carries higher overdose risk – and how CRAFT helps families make those decisions without panic ruling the show.
They also unpack the emotional side for families: the terror when a loved one disappears for the weekend, the huge relief when a text finally comes in, and the strong urge to rush in with soup and muffins. Instead, they invite families to sit with their own distress, step back when their loved one is high or withdrawing, and save the loving attention and treats for the times when that person is not using.
Modules 3, 5 and 6 of the CRAFT programme are highlighted as key guides. If someone you care about uses multiple substances and you feel overwhelmed, this conversation offers a clear, step-by-step way to start small and move forward one substance at a time. What small change could you experiment with this week?
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