A Message Of Hope For Families

Dear Families,

As much as alcohol and drug addiction is a disease that affects the mind and body, so is it a disease that affects the family members who are suffering as well. When one family member has a drinking problem or drug problem, often the whole family suffers. It is common for family members to think that the addicted person will “get better with time”, or that an individual will simply “grow up” or “grow out of it.” An alcoholic or addict may go through periods of time with no external problems and family members will forget “how bad it was” only to be reminded of the problem, the next time there is an incident. This cycle of addiction can be extremely painful and destructive to the family unit.

So for those who think addiction is contained to the individual with the family playing a support role it should be made clear that addiction is a family problem. It impacts the stability of the home, the family's unity, mental health, physical health and overall family dynamic. Getting your loved one into detox is the first step towards their recovery, but it is important that the family learns about the disease of addiction