Addiction Is a Family Disease

Alcoholism and drug addiction not only wreak havoc on the life of the addict, but can be devastating to their family members and loved ones. Families coping with a loved one struggling with addiction often experience intense and challenging emotions can be hard to cope with, and lead to deterioration of even the strongest of families. Most family members want to provide the addicted family member with love and support, but are often unclear on how to deal with the manipulation, deceit, pain and abuse that often comes with addiction. This can be a very challenging and confusing dynamic which can tear a family apart, and is also very damaging for the addict themselves. Left unaddressed, it almost inevitably gets worse. 

When we do not know how to deal with this we unknowingly kind support the on going situation.  A non-effective response to the situation communicates to the addict that we agree with the current situation even if we protest or verbalize how upset or how much we disagree with the current situation. If you do not learn how to communicate and deal effectively and powerfully with an addict, the addiction very likely will continue to deteriorate.