How to draw lines in a toxic friendship?

It's very difficult to find a true friend these days.

People tend to make friends for gains and to exploit. When friendships are weighed in the scale of profit and loss it is sure to become toxic. This is because at some point of time one of the friends tries to take more advantage than the other.

Such friendship cannot continue for long. It so happens at times that one is either illusioned of obsessed so much with a friendship that he fails to realise that he is being exploited by his friends; that such friends are not his true friends. Often it so happens that even if he does not enjoy their company anymore he finds it difficult to move out of the group. This is the time to draw lines for the toxic friendship. 

We have to be very careful while drawing lines in such toxic friendship. Just like a long term relationship, friendship is not that easy to severe all of a sudden. However, in the case of a vitiated friendship we have to be careful but cordial to avoid an unpleasant situation.

Instances of financial sharing in friendship have to be wisely dealt. Whining spendthrift friends should be handled firmly. In case a single friend is a target of a group of friends, breaking such a toxic friendship is the best way.  

People harbouring bad habits like drinking, drug addiction or gambling search for friends whom they can exploit financially. Their first step is to coax their friends to addiction. Such people cannot manage a faithful friendship, but they need friends who can bring them out of this addiction. However, it's better to draw a line for such a friendship which is not well balanced and toxic. 

A friend in need is a friend indeed, but when a helpful friend is neglected when he needs help by his friends, it is better to draw the line of separation from such a kind of friendship. It is better to lead a lonely life than be surrounded by friends who do not understand the essence of friendship.