Much of the following information comes from a book that looks at society and the community as a whole. For further reading consult When Society Becomes an Addict, by Anne Wilson Schaef. There are five basic messages that need to be imparted to any family member of a person who is addicted. 2.You can not cure them. You, as a member of this family are affected and need to get help for yourself.
Addiction is an illness.
Addicted persons can and do recover. In your desire to be loving and supportive to an addicted family member we often, unknowingly do things that actually contribute to the addicted person's disease. This kind of behavior, making it easy or even possible for the addict for the addict to use drugs is known as enabling, and it takes a variety of forms. When addiction strikes close to home we often look for a reason to believe that it's not so. Denial prolongs drug use and delays treatment.