The New Power Of Positive Thinking

But neither scenario is plausible or true. We do not have the power to change another person. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men cannot help them unless they help themselves. 
People change when they understand on a deeply personal level the tough truth of their affliction. We can continue to love them and pray for their awakening. We can attend Nar-Anon meetings and begin to understand that addiction is a family disease and listen to the wisdom of others who have traveled the same sad road we find ourselves on. But we cannot change another person. We cannot ask another person to do our will. We can’t control anyone except ourselves. That is a sad, frustrating and tragic truth but it remains the truth now and forever. Detach with love and work on making yourself healthier and more resilient. We didn’t cause their addiction, we can’t cure it, and we can't control it. We cannot do the work of recovery for someone we love. Maintain healthy boundaries, accept with humility that we can’t alter the consequences of someone else’s behavior, and work on maintaining your own peace of mind.