• BRINGING THE FAMILY VOICE TO ADDICTION AND RECOVERY •

Change Addiction Now

7 Things Parents Can Say When Their Child is Struggling with Drugs or Alcohol

EMPOWER

EMBRACE

TWITTER FEED

INFORMATION, RESEARCH, RESOURCES

"Knowledge is Power."
Perhaps nowhere as true--or life-changing--as it is for those struggling with the family disease of addiction.

Until you understand how addiction develops*; why cravings override all the best intentions, why relapse is a hallmark of the disease of addiction and so much more, it’s difficult NOT to assume what you’ve been assuming all this time.

EDUCATEis about sharing informational

and research resources and then passing

them along as widely as we can. This is

a constantly changing site.

*Contrary to popular belief, people

are not born addicts nor do they

"choose" to have this disease.

There are five key risk factors

for developing addiction:

childhood trauma, genetics,

early use, social

environment and mental

illness. Resources linked

below explain the disease

more fully.

• ADDICTION IS A DISEASE •

Addiction is now understood to
be a developmental, chronic,
often relapsing brain disease.

A disease is "something that changes cells in a negative way." Addiction changes cell structure and function in the brain – the organ that controls everything a person thinks, feels, says and does.

When a family member understands this disease, they can let go of the anger, shame and blame and know their loved one is not doing it TO them; rather, the nature of this brain disease makes it impossible for them not to break promises, lie, cheat, steal and hurt those they love the most., until they receive the help and support they need to effectively treat their disease.

RECOVERY

DUAL DIAGNOSIS (MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION)

TREATMENT

FAMILY DISEASE