Handling an alcoholic or drug-addicted loved one is a particularly thorny issue because people worry that frank talk about the problem might endanger their relationship, says psychologist Handling an alcoholic or drug-addicted loved one is a particularly thorny issue because people worry that frank talk about the problem might endanger their relationship, says psychologist Rich O‘Neill, PhD Rich O‘Neill, PhD. O‘Neill touches on the related issues of enabling, tough love, blame and interventions and advises that people who keep silent about the love one‘s addiction will likely lose the relationship anyway.. O‘Neill touches on the related issues of enabling, tough love, blame and interventions and advises that people who keep silent about the love one‘s addiction will likely lose the relationship anyway.