Drug addiction support for families of addicts
While drug addiction can severely impact the overall well-being of the addict, it can also severely impact the addict’s family members. Family members helplessly watch as their loved one spirals downward into their addiction. Unsure of how to get help for their loved one, the emotional turmoil of the family members is often left on the back burner. This can cause friction in all aspects of the family unit. This is why it is important for families of addicts to know that there is help for them. Many areas of the United States offer support for family members of addicts. Recovery from drug addiction is a family affair, so it is important for families to seek drug addiction support in order to better understand what the loved one is going through, and how to deal with the emotional turmoil the addiction has caused. It is important to keep the following in mind: •
Do not isolate yourselves. Connect with others by joining a drug addiction support group.
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Educate yourselves on how addiction impacts both the addict and the family. This can help begin the process of moving on.
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Learn proper communication skills. An active addiction can destroy communication in the family. It is important to have proper communication skills in order to rebuild the family unit.
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Take responsibility for your own behavior. With the chaos that ensues with an addiction, family members may react out of anger and fear. It is important that you acknowledge this behavior and take responsibility.
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Do not enable the addict's drug use. Engage the family in activities.
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Understanding the potential for relapse. The risk of relapse is a large part of the recovery process, and it does affect the entire family unit. It is important for families to develop strategies to help deal with these challenges.
What you can do to help the addict •
Understand the in's and out's of addiction and recovery.
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Do not pass judgment and make accusations. Name-calling will only make the problem worse.
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Encourage a sober environment for the addict.
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Encourage your loved one to attend support meetings.
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Set boundaries that everyone in the family, including the addict, can agree upon.
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Acknowledge the positive potential of the addict.
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Treat your loved one's drug addiction as if it were a serious illness.
What you can do to help yourself •
It is equally as important to take care of yourself, as well as provide support for your loved one.
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Some of the ways you can help yourself include:
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Take care of yourself and recover.
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Do not blame yourself for your loved one's addiction.
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Attend support groups, such as Al-Anon.
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Do not argue with your loved one. Also, do not discuss the addiction if your loved one is currently under the influence.
Keep in mind that you did not cause the addiction. For more information about support for family members of addicts, contact your local addiction center. These centers will be able to offer advice as to which groups will be right for you.
References Addictions and Recovery. (2015) Help for the family: http://www.drugaddictsupport.com