Ignoring your loved one's alcohol or drug use may mean physically removing yourself from the situation by going to another room in the house or leaving. Simply being quiet and focusing on something else is another useful way to ignore unhealthy behavior. Ignoring sends the message that you are not going to engage with them when they have been using drugs or drinking.

Ignoring unhealthy behavior can make substance use less fun or attractive. It can also help reduce conflict. Ongoing conflict can distract people from long term consequences because they focus on the conflict rather than their own behavior. This will be discussed in more detail when we discuss how to “Avoid Enabling.”