Addiction is a disease that affects not only the person who is struggling with it, but also their loved ones. Family members can be deeply impacted by the behaviors associated with addiction such as lying, manipulation, and financial struggles. They may feel helpless, angry, or resentful towards the person who is addicted, and may struggle with their own mental health as a result.
One of the ways addiction affects family members is through the breakdown of trust and communication. When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they may make promises they can't keep, lie to cover up their behavior, or become defensive when confronted about their substance use. This can make it difficult for family members to trust the person who is addicted, and can lead to a breakdown in communication.
Another way addiction affects family members is through financial strain. Addiction can be an expensive disease, with costs associated with buying drugs or alcohol, seeking treatment, and dealing with legal issues. Family members may feel the financial burden of the addiction, and may be forced to make difficult decisions about how to allocate resources.
Finally, addiction can take a toll on the mental health of family members. They may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious about the situation, and may struggle with feelings of guilt or shame. It is important for family members to seek support and resources to help them cope with the impact of addiction on their lives.
Overall, addiction is a complex disease that affects not only the person who is struggling with it, but also their loved ones. It is important for family members to seek support and resources to help them cope with the impact of addiction on their lives, and to work towards rebuilding trust and communication within the family unit.
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Family Groups provide a place for families and friends of addicts. to share experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems. The groups recognize addiction as a family illness and believe that changed attitudes can aid recovery.
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has programs to help family members who have a loved one experiencing addiction. They have provided the following information about their programs:
Family Program Information:
We have a Virtual Family Team centralized email for families to access virtualfamily@hazeldenbettyford.org.
We have a toll free number to leave a message for a prompt call back (877) 429-5093. We provide help with registering, resources, and answering questions.
We offer multiple programs each week in two different time zones PT and CT.
We offer weekly programs for both families of our adult patients and families or our adolescent/young adult patients (under 25) – these are open to the public as well.
Let’s not forget that the kids are usually the 1st to be hurt by parental addiction and the last to heal.
Children’s Program Information:
Each year, we pledge to:
· Educate children about the hope of recovery and to reduce the stigma and discrimination that causes many children to remain silent and unheard;
· Advocate for the children and families we serve and the recovery resources they deserve; and
· Celebrate the best outcome of the work we do: where we can let kids get back to their most important job…To Be A Kid!!
Our specialized programs not only help children, but allow families the opportunity to heal and patients to move on in their recovery. There are many positive outcomes from reaching out for help!
As a reminder, you can also direct loved ones to visit our website to Pre-register for one of our Virtual Children’s Programs; www.hazeldenbettyford.org/kids; or reach out directly to the Children’s team: ChildrensVS@hazeldenbettyford.org;
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