Family Recovery

The focus of drug abuse is generally on the addicted individual and those that enable their addiction. But there are many people that suffer a great deal during an individual’s disease: the families of the addicted loved one.

One person that is struggling with addiction can disrupt an entire family. Addiction leaves the family broken and vulnerable; desperate and exposed.

Addiction Recovery Treatment is the one tool that can piece together and heal the family. And to help the whole family move into recovery, New Start Recovery Solutions has a family recovery program.

Why Don’t They Just Quit?

When there is even one addiction in the family, there is a long process that must be gone through before the struggle is over.

At first, when the red flags of addiction start to reveal themselves, the family often sees the symptoms as a phase that will be grown out of. If it persists, they may begin to realize there’s a very real problem, but will often neglect to bring it up.

There may be months or even years of suffering with the addicted family member before the subject is ever brought up.

And even then, when family members try to talk and reason with the person – few understand that their loved one is past conversation. Their son, daughter, father, or mother is listening to cravings, not to logic. It takes the most human qualities of all – emotion and compassion – to break through.

Addiction Hurts the Whole Family, Not Just One Person

Addictions cause people to do things they would never think of doing if they weren’t abusing drugs. Addiction brings out the worst in everyone.

The family may come to the point where they don’t even know this person anymore. Family gatherings and holidays can never be the same when one of the family members has an addiction. This causes fights and shouting: Why come at all if you’re going to come late and high?

It sows distrust, as mothers pull their purses closer when their son or daughter sits next to them at dinner.

It leads to uncomfortable situations and more than one late night call to come get the addicted family member from a seedy neighborhood – or from behind bars.

Every phone call, every siren, and every knock on the door is agonizing – as family members fear hearing the news that no one ever wants to hear.

The family is in a vicious cycle that they cannot control. Some family members will walk away, defeated. But most will stay around and try to solve the problem themselves.

The truth is: Those with addictions are the only ones who can only fix their addiction – and that is the hardest part of this journey. Understanding a family member has a problem – and that they need help – is the most intimidating aspect of this struggle. This is true for both the person with addiction and the family.

If Your Loved One Needs Help,
Call Our 24-Hour Admissions Center at 866-303-6275

How Do I Get Them Help?

It is not always enough to simply have the addicted person admitted into treatment. Some addicted individuals will leave treatment early of their own accord. Some will relapse when they complete the program.

This often leads family members to believe that if treatment didn’t resolve the addiction, it is incapable of working at all. However, in truth, the person with the addiction must seek out sobriety on their own accord. They must come to realize they have a problem; and that they are hurting those around them.

Treating addiction requires all members in the family to work together.

The family must be able to recognize who may be enabling the addiction. Those that lie for their loved one, give rides and money, and make excuses on their behalf are often doing it out of love. However, they are unknowingly accommodating the family member’s addiction. No family has room for addiction. But through enabling – the addiction continues.

Of course, enabling does not come from malicious intent, it comes from love. However, the effects are often the exact opposite of the desired outcome: The family member with the addiction has the means to continue their lifestyle.

Family is the Key to Sobriety

Interventions have been shown, time and time again, to be one of the most effective ways to help a family member realize they need help. What the mind refuses to let in, the heart will.

Showing the damage that the addiction is doing to the family is one of the few ways to reach out to someone whose behavior is driven by their cravings. Letting someone with an addiction know that they cannot be accommodated anymore, informing them of their selfishness, showing how they’ve hurt those that love them, and offering one last hand in understanding and compassion is one of the only ways to help someone out of the sinkhole that is substance abuse.

It is this understanding that they are loved – and that drugs are eroding at their love – that can drive a change in the heart.

Love is not always comfortable, and it will hurt to be honest. But it will hurt even more if they love their addiction more than their family. Painful as it is – it is through this process that a resolution becomes a possibility.

Honesty May Hurt – But So Does Addiction

Someone with an addiction will continue to behave in a hurtful way unless something comes between them and their next high. This could mean jail, it could mean overdose, or it could even mean something worse.

It is up to the family to confront their loved one in a proper intervention, to be more honest with them; and to avoid enabling their behavior. With family support – and a clear intention to be free of addiction – someone with an addiction can achieve their first moment of sobriety.

If You or Someone You Know Needs to Talk
With One of our Counselors on Staff – call us at 866-303-6275.

We are here for you every step of the way.

Northern California Evidence-Based
Whole Person Addiction Recovery

New Start Recovery Solutions
Addiction Treatment Northern California and the US
Bay Area, East Bay, Silicon Valley, Northern California
Dual Diagnosis Holistic Addiction Recovery

• Each patient is evaluated by New Start Recovery Solutions staff and receives a biopsychosocial assessment; and an individualized treatment plan.

• We use Mindfulness Relapse Prevention and other whole person evidence-based therapies; including CBT, EMDR, yoga, tai chi and more.

• If you or your loved one is located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Paradise, Redding, Martinez or other northern California area – and are dealing with a drug abuse or an alcohol use disorder – welcome to evidence-based whole person addiction treatment at New Start Recovery Solutions.

Your Life Awaits – Make a New Start Now

Call 866-303-6275