You hold a great deal of important information about your friend's or family member's past. By being there for him or her at this critical point, you represent a bridge from past addiction to positive reinforcement in the present, and onto a future free of alcohol.

The knowledge that you possess is also vital to keeping your friend or relative steady on the road to recovery, since you might be more attuned to behaviors, events, or emotions that might trigger a relapse. It is important that these characteristics are acknowledged and appreciated so they can be avoided or managed if necessary. By doing so, both you and your friend or family member will be able to learn from the situations of the past, ensure and maintain stability in the present, and head toward a brighter future.

You also represent a bridge between your friend or family member and individuals or circumstances in the past that might have been disrupted. Your role here is to help establish reconnections. This might be accomplished by reestablishing family ties or helping revisit work or career skills. By helping your friend or family member reconnect with what brought him or her happiness in the past, you are helping that person reestablish him or herself and providing an important foundation for the future.