This article is featured in The Senior and is republished with permission.
Christmas is the time families and friends come together, but for some it can be a very complex time when navigating a relationship with an adult child who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
The horrific deaths of famed Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, allegedly by their son Nick, have highlighted an issue many Australian families, and others around the world, are familiar with.
Friends of the couple have spoken out about how the couple wanted the best for all their children, including Nick, 32, who had been in and out of rehab since the age of 15.
Maria Shriver posted about her close friendship with the couple on Instagram, adding they "loved their kids so much, and they never stopped trying to be really good parents".
And Reiner himself opened up to American publication NPR in September 2025, saying he believed his son Nick was doing well.
"He's been great ... hasn't been doing drugs for over six years ... he's in a really good place," Reiner told NPR.
Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and appeared in a blue anti-suicide smock and shackles in his court appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court.
But for any family unit, a child suffering addiction can bring conflict and even danger, leaving many parents this time of year to wonder if no contact should be enforced.
Australian Psychological Society CEO Dr Zena Burgess said cutting addicted children out of your life can be beneficial for everyone because their behaviour can be far-reaching.
"Parents navigating an adult child's alcohol and other drug use during the holiday season often face painful and conflicting emotions," she said.
"It is important that parents in this situation consider their own safety and emotional wellbeing."
Deciding to cut contact with a child is often complex and a "deeply" personal process that can have emotional and social implications, Dr Burgess said.
"The decision is often driven by a combination of factors related to self-preservation, mental health, and unresolved emotional conflicts," she said.
Dr Burgess advised when cutting contact, people weigh self-protection against the cost of "severing ties".
"Some key psychological drivers behind making the choice to have no contact or low contact may include chronic stress and trauma, healthy boundaries, assertiveness and agency and breaking cycles of dysfunction," she said.
But if parents feel "forced" to exclude a child from festive plans, they can be left with feelings of "guilt and grief".
"Psychologists can provide support to both the parents ... and the child to support their recovery," she said.
Dr Burgess said if it "feels right" it is also good to talk a loved one or friend about your feelings because it can also be a good source of support.
"It's important to prioritise self-care, ensuring you are getting adequate sleep, exercise, eating well and taking time to do things you enjoy," she said.
Cutting ties with family members is far more common than people might realise, with family estrangement having affected around one in 25 Australians.
The festive season is also a common time for conflict, with one in three Australians reporting "tension, emotional triggers and complex family dynamics" are part of Christmas, according to data from HealthBright.