As clinicians, we are sometimes limited in our ability to influence patient behavior by the professional nature of our relationship with the patient. Integrating the family into treatment gives us a strong ally to motivate patients, and creates leverage for change that no clinician or group of clinicians can effect. Whenever possible, AdCare's substance abuse treatment programs, both inpatient and outpatient, include family members as an integral part of treatment and recovery. What's important is that the patient is not isolated and that someone who is part of the patient's life will be there to help him or her through the entire process, before, during and after treatment.
Substance abuse affects everyone who is close to the abuser.
If the family is not included in treatment and recovery, then the patient may return to the same poisoned atmosphere created in the wake of his or her abuse, significantly reducing his or her chances of successful recovery. The primary goal of AdCare's treatment program is to treat the addiction. But to succeed we must often deal first with the underlying issues in the family. In cases where serious family dysfunction is evident, the counselor can guide families to available resources. The family is instrumental in creating a support structure that facilitates the patient's recovery.