Having a family member who has a substance use disorder is a grueling mental, spiritual, and physical challenge. When you first learn that a family member is struggling with addiction, your first reaction may be to try to take control of the situation. Unfortunately, controlling behavior often produces little results and only exacerbates the problem. Many resources are available that can help you cope with a family member’s addiction.

5 Resources for Families of People Who Have Substance Use Disorders
1. 12-Step Programs
Popular groups for family members of people who have substance use disorders are:

• Al-Anon
• Nar-Anon
• Codependents’ Anonymous (CODA)
• Families Anonymous

Using the same 12 steps that are used in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, these programs will teach you how to resist the temptation to control your family member’s addiction and how to cope with the problems that are being presented by it.
 2. 12-Step Alternative Programs
You may not prefer 12-Step Programs for reasons such as disagreeing with their religiosity or philosophy. There are 12-step alternative groups for families of people who struggle with addiction such as SMART Recovery-Friends and Family that allow you to connect with other family members of addicted individuals and learn coping skills.
3. Mental Health Counseling
Speaking to a compassionate, trustworthy, and experienced mental health counselor can provide insight into your situation. Another benefit of mental health counseling is that it allows you to vent to an objective person. This will enable you to release negative emotions instead of bottling them up.
4. Intervention
While you may have seen the television show Intervention, newer research-based intervention models tend to focus on the entire family system. Even if your family member is not interested in going to rehab or making improvements, you can work with an interventionist on setting boundaries, avoiding enabling behaviors, and not falling for manipulation.
5. Psychoeducational Resources
Addiction treatment centers often offer workshops to help educate loved ones about addiction, psychopharmacology, and relationship dynamics. The internet is also an abundant source of informational articles, social media accounts, and blogs about addiction and its effects on families. Some good books that have been written about the subject are:

• The Lost Years by Kristina Wandzilak and Constance Curry
• Addicted Like Me by Karen Franklin and Lauren King
• The Joey Song by Sandy Swenson
• Codependent No More by Melody Beattie

Addiction is a Family Disease
Addiction is often referred to as a “family disease” because it puts distress on the entire family. Unlike the symptoms of cancer and diabetes that exist inside the sufferer’s body, the symptoms of addiction manifest in the sufferer’s behavior. This causes the people who are closest to the sufferer to react.

Your first knee-jerk reaction may have been to attempt to control the situation and put your life on hold until the addict in the family gets sober. The truth is that you can still live a happy life, regardless of whether the addict in the family gets into recovery or not. You can be free of the bondages of your family member’s addiction by practicing self-care and taking advantage of the available resources.

Bay Breeze Recovery Center offers a family program to help you cope with a family member suffering from addiction. Register for our next meeting by filling out the registration form on our website under “Family Support.

*Note: This is a sample piece, not written for an actual client. 

Rehabs: Places of Healing and Recovery
​If you are struggling with addiction and desiring to transition into a life of recovery, you may wonder, “What is rehab like?” You may be worried about the daily activities, rules, and how the staff treats clients at rehab centers. Do not allow your fears about rehab to stop you from recovering and reclaiming your life. Read forward to learn about what rehab is like.

 How Do I Know if I Need Rehab?
You may be questioning if you need to go to rehab. You may be thinking, “I can stop any time I want to,” “I am just a social drinker who needs to cut back,” “I use prescription pills, not street drugs,” or “This is just a phase that will pass.” If you have been unable to quit substance use despite experiencing negative life consequences, you may benefit from going to rehab.
Other symptoms of addiction may include: 

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using substances.
• Being preoccupied with using substances.
• Using substances to cope with negative emotions.
• Needing more of a substance to achieve the same effects. This is called “tolerance.” Engaging in risky behavior to get substances (e.g., stealing, prostitution, or other criminal behavior).

What Do People Do When They Go to Rehab? 

• Check-In

You will participate in an intake interview when you first arrive at the rehab center. You will be asked basic biographical information and questions about your substance use and health history. Answering these questions honestly will help you get the most out of the program.

• Detox

After the check-in process, you will go through the detoxification process. If you are detoxing off certain drugs (e.g., alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, etc.), you most likely will experience withdrawal symptoms. Medical staff will be present to help you safely and comfortably go through this process.

•  Counseling

Three primary methods of psychotherapy that are used in rehab centers are:
1. Individual Counseling
You will work one-on-one with a counselor to focus on the underlying issues of the addiction such as childhood trauma, life stressors, low self-esteem, co-occurring mental illness, destructive thinking patterns, addictive personality traits, etc. The counselor will also work with you on relapse prevention techniques
2. Family Counseling
Addiction is a family disease. Family counseling will help heal present wounds caused by the addiction and past wounds that may have triggered the addiction. It also helps inhibit the future of codependent family systems.
3. Group Therapy
Group therapy involves members working together to support and learn from one another. Sessions often involve sharing experiences, struggles, and solutions. A counselor leads these sessions by facilitating discussions, highlighting important points, and ensuring healthy group dynamics. 

• Aftercare Planning

At the conclusion of your stay at a rehab center, you will work with your counselor to develop an aftercare plan. This may include living in a sober-living facility, attending an outpatient program, attending support groups, and engaging in healthy activities.

 What is Inpatient Rehab Like?
Going to an inpatient rehab may sound scary because it involves living at the facility under the supervision of the staff and not being able to interact with your loved ones for that time. However, their structure is highly beneficial for recovering from addiction. Rest assured that they do not mimic the settings of hospitals or jails. Instead, they are places of mental, physical, and spiritual healing. Here is a typical daily routine in rehab:

• Marvelous Mornings

You will wake up at a scheduled time each morning. A healthy breakfast will be served, and you will be given medications and supplements. The rest of the morning will consist of activities such as a group therapy session or a yoga/meditation session.

• Adventurous Afternoons

After lunch is when the most intense therapy takes place. This includes individual therapy, anger management, stress management, grief counseling, etc. Experiential therapies such as art, psychodrama, adventure therapy, and recreation therapy are commonly hosted in the afternoon.
 · Easy Evenings
The evening will consist of dinner and attending another group session or 12-Step Meeting. Bedtime will be scheduled for a reasonable hour.

 Take the First Step on the Recovery Journey
The idea of going to rehab and getting into recovery can sound scary. You may be wondering how you will survive in the world without using drugs and alcohol. Know that recovery is possible and that you have the power to create a better life for yourself. Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Take the first step by calling Enlightened Solutions Recovery Center at (609) 270-1151 to embark on your recovery journey.

*Note: This is a sample piece, not written for an actual client.