A Family Disease

Substance use disorder can cause major upheaval for families, fueling resentment, anxiety, frustration and disappointment. It deeply wounds those closest to the person with the addiction. And it has far-reaching effects on the health and wellness of the family and children.

The truth is that substance use disorder is a family disease. It causes chaos – changing relationships and roles and isolating the family from extended family, social and community support.

The peer support group Al-Anon begins with the principal that alcoholism is a family disease. In a family with substance use disorder, family life is defined by damaging behaviors including:

Obsession – going to great lengths to stop the person’s use, such as searching the house or hiding liquor.

Anxiety – worrying constantly about the effects of the use on children, bills, the family’s future.

Anger – feelings of resentment that result from being lied to and hurt.

Denial – ignoring, making excuses for or actively hiding the behavior.

Guilt – the belief that the family member is somehow to blame.

Insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

A family disease means the family is also sick and in need of their own pathway to recovery. A first step to recovery is focusing on themselves and letting go of the things they can’t control.

SOURCE: Al-Anon offers new life to families of alcoholics. Hazelden.