Effects of Substance Abuse on
the Family
When one family member is afflicted with
the disease of drug or alcohol addiction,
the entire family is affected. Repercussions
can take the form of spouse or child abuse,
divorce, accidents and negligence, financial
loss, stress, and many other effects not
so readily apparent.
Family members may invest substantial efforts
into keeping up appearances for the addicted
individual. The pain of admitting that they
cannot control what is happening to the family
can be unbearable. Trying to control the
substance abuser by removing the drugs or
alcohol, eliciting promises of abstinence,
and covering up the substance abuse are some
of the ways families are drawn into the abuser’s
sickness.
Although some family members may seem perfectly
healthy, underlying attitudes and behaviors
have been shaped by dealing with the substance
abuse by the family member:
- Linking of
self esteem to the abstinence or relapse
of the addict - many family members
believe they can control the addict's illness
and blame themselves for relapses.
- Excluding their own needs by assuming
responsibility for the addict's.
- Anxiety
about intimacy and separation.
- Depression.
- Ultra-sensitivity to subtle
shifts in the addict's behavior and mood.
- Stress-related medical illnesses.
Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery for the
Family
We believe that recovery from these symptoms
is an ongoing process possible through active
participation in group therapy facilitated
by professionals trained to diagnose and
treat co-dependency and other family-related
problems.
The Transitions
Recovery drug
rehab center in Florida offers several
opportunities specially designed for families
to address
the issues of drug and alcohol addiction
recovery:
Family
Support Group: Tuesdays 6:30 p.m.
- 8:00 p.m. we offer an ongoing, open-ended
family group designed to provide support,
encouragement, and a safe place to share
pain and joy. New people are always welcome,
and many attend regularly.
Multi-Family
Group: All patients and their
families attend a large group meeting each
Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Lectures, films, experiential
exercises, and honest sharing make this group
an exciting experience.
Individual
Sessions with Therapist: Appointments
will be set with the primary therapist on
an individual basis.
All Family Program participants are encouraged
to attend AA, NA, GA, or OA in recovery from
addiction, and Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, or CODA
support groups.
During a family’s
involvement, they will learn about the
diseases and disorders
related to substance abuse. Addiction recovery
programs give the opportunity to heal together
with the addicted family member and address
issues that have had a long-term impact on
their lives.
Participating in the
Transitions Recovery Family
Program as the addicted family member
attends our drug
rehab program can be a
life-changing experience. Family members
find that years of hurt, confusion,
and shame are healed as the effects of the
disease and any accompanying mental illnesses,
in dual diagnosis patients,
are explained and the affected person’s
own issues are addressed. They also learn
how to support their loved one in his or
her substance abuse addiction recovery.
Help for Families of Substance Abuse Addicts
We believe that families need and deserve
support just as the patient does. Recovery
can begin for the family at Transitions
Recovery substance abuse and addiction
treatment program. And when you help a
family member face the effects of their
substance abuse, it is more likely the
addicted individual will agree to substance
abuse treatment, through alcohol addiction
recovery or a drug rehab program.
To find out if you or a loved one may require
substance abuse treatment, we invite you
to call 800-626-1980 now to talk to us.
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