Addiction is a family disease

Addiction is a family disease

Alcoholism and drug addiction have obvious and well documented effects on chronic substance abusers. Prolonged abuse of drugs and/or alcohol will deteriorate a person’s physical health, impair his or her mental functioning and damage the spirit. But how will these adverse effects impact the addict’s immediate family, and how will the damage manifest itself? Recovery is possible (Behavioral Health Inc. 2018).

While it can be easy to blame the person who is an addict or alcoholic, the entire family usually contributes to the continuation of the disease. A person in active addiction can be quite manipulative and convincing, and family members often have a difficult time saying no. The relationship then develops into a codependent relationship (Simple Recovery, 2018).

Codependent relationships happen very frequently with addicts and their families. Codependency can be defined as a condition that affects people in a way that they enable a person close to them to commit abuse by aiding and protecting that person (Recovery Direct, 2018). Families will hide the problem and help the addict or alcoholic in various ways. They sacrifice themselves and so not seek help (Recovery Direct, 2018).

Codependents usually react negatively when it is suggested that they seek treatment. They may feel that they did not cause the problem and they are not addicts themselves (Recovery Direct, 2018). However, there are organisations that offer help to families struggling with codependency.

Alanon; Naranon and Codependents Anonymous are programs of recovery from codependency and are a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. These organisations are a  place where people can share their experiences, strengths and hopes in the effort to find freedom in their relationships with others and themselves. These programs follow a Twelve Step Program which is a central part of their suggested recovery program.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
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• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
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• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
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• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
  Angelique J
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