Having a family member that is suffering from drug or alcohol abuse can
be extremely painful. As hard as it is for the family, it is harder for
the addict. It is vital for family members to be part of the addict's
recovery process. There is no other way to make it work. Enabling the
addict to continue in their ways only reinforces their addiction.
Ignoring the problem certainly will not bring the addict to confront
his own problems either. As painful as it may be, ultimately the family
holds the key to the addict's recovery.
Alcohol or drug addicts cause their family pain and embarrassment, and
sometimes abuse. It is extraordinarily difficult to live with the
addict, and imperative to confront him and encourage him to go to a
structured drug or alcohol rehabilitation center. While the addict is
in the rehab center, it is important to offer him love, encouragement,
and acceptance. The work is yet to come; when the addict will arrive
back home, leaving behind the solid, supportive environment at the rehab center, the
family will have to band together to form a supportive wall around the
addict. Old friends of the addict who may be destructive to him by
virtue of their own addictions or other bad influences must be shut
out.
The success of the former addict depends entirely on his support
system. The family must keep a drug-free and alcohol-free environment
to enable his success. All temptation presents an opportunity for
relapse. Sometimes this can take its toll on the family, for example at
a family event no alcohol may be served, and when ...