What helped me to step back and stop protecting was the realization that a counselor helped me see that the more I protected and sheltered and attempted to control the uncontrollable (stop my daughter using) the more I was "filling in the hole" so she could not hit bottom. I was actually prolonging her active use.
You're right that it often takes blind faith to make that leap and let them find their own way, but coming here, meetings and/or counseling provide the support for you to move from blind faith to a better way.