Family can play an integral role in a person's addiction and recovery journey. Deciding to enter into a drug and alcohol addiction rehab center means taking a massive step in changing. The role family plays in this process can be monumental in addiction recovery treatment.
Genetics of Addiction
While environmental factors influence addiction, one's genetic makeup and family history can be a relatively good predictor of drug or alcohol addiction's susceptibility. The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health states, "Addictions are moderate to highly inheritable. Like other complex diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, and AIDS, the addictions are strongly influenced by genetic background and also profoundly influenced by lifestyle and individual choices."
Findings from recent DNA studies are beginning to help identify the link between genes and addiction. Gene studies have also opened the door to create targeted, individualized treatments for those battling addiction.
Am I an Enabler?
Watching a loved one spiral into addiction can be painful and conflicting. Resolving how to be supportive while not enabling, can be challenging. It is imperative to recognize whether one's actions create an environment that makes it easier for the the person to use.
Many people who enable loved ones do so out of care and concern. There is a genuine effort to help the other person, yet enabling has the opposite impact of allowing them to use without experiencing consequences. Some common behaviors for people who enable are:
Covered for a person if they decide to skip out on their responsibilities
Facilitated the purchasing of alcohol or drugs, whether it be through logistics or financial assistance
Made empty threats to discourage drug or alcohol use
Excused unacceptable behaviors
Neglected oneself and one's needs in favor of the person with the substance use disorder.
There is help for loved ones of a person struggling with drug or alcohol abuse. Al-Anon is a support group designed to help family members of active drug and alcohol users navigate during this challenging time, and professional counseling is an option.
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How Family Impacts Addiction Recovery
Those closest to a person with substance use disorder often enable the person; this may be family, friends, or partners. Making excuses and covering for their loved ones can become a habit that is difficult to break. Often, people who enable eliminate the natural consequences of their loved one’s actions because they may be in denial about how severe their loved one’s problem has become. Examples can be paying fines for courts following an arrest, allowing someone to continue using drugs or alcohol in the home, or providing them with money that goes towards purchasing drugs or alcohol. When external consequences are taken care of by someone else, the person who is using doesn’t experience the consequences of their actions.
These behaviors and perspectives can make it more difficult for the loved one to seek treatment. As difficult as it is, a person should focus on their needs first, and then they are best able to help their loved one in a loving, firm, fair, and consistent manner.
How Family Can Help Addiction Recovery
Family can help recovery by understanding and accepting that their loved one has a problem. Additionally, the family can help create a plan of action, which will likely include seeking professional help.
If you have identified yourself as an enabler, it will help you and your loved one change that behavior. When your behavior changes, it may be easier for the person you love to seek and accept help to stop using. In place of enabling, it is essential to support positive change in your loved one’s life, also reinforcing that you will be there on their recovery journey.
Healing as a Family
A loved one’s addiction can heavily impact an entire family. It is likely that by the time you even consider seeking help as a family, the situation has become extreme. It cannot be done alone. Family therapy and family support groups might be pivotal to recovery for the addict and all family members. Through this process, you will likely:
Confront and work through issues together
Set healthy boundaries
Create open lines of communication
Identify the building blocks that will serve as the new foundation of your relationship
Addiction and alcoholism are often called a family disease. Recovery can be a family journey with love, mutual support, and health to support one another in a sober journey.
Do you have questions about your role in your family member’s addiction recovery path? We are here to help.