Recovery Support: Action Steps for Families Struggling with Addiction

January 11, 2017 by rmsmith5

“A mentor of mine always says that one of the most powerful forces on Earth is inertia. That objects in motion tend to stay in motion, while still objects tend to stay still. As a family member of someone struggling with addiction, it is incredibly difficult to move yourself and your loved one towards recovery, and it is often unclear what the correct action is. I would suggest that starting to move is the most important action. Here are a couple of things you can start doing:

∙ Get Educated – There is a free Family Education Program every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at 563 Southlake Blvd. in Richmond. A number of community providers present weekly on topics related to addiction and recovery. Additionally, a book called, ‘Get Your Loved One Sober’ by Robert Myers is another great place to start, as is The Recovery Research Institute out of Harvard, recoveryanswers.org. The U.S. Surgeon General also has just released a very helpful (but long!) report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health: https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov.

∙ Get Support – Whether it is a family group such as Al-Anon, Families Anonymous, or trustworthy and accepting friends, or a minister or therapists, bringing your family’s struggle out of isolation can provide support, hope, and resources. You are not alone in this struggle and will be pleased to find people with experience, strength and hope to share.

∙ Arm Yourself with Resources – Unfortunately, our society has failed to provide adequate resources for everyone struggling to get quality help. People in active addiction are rarely able to research and investigate these resources. As a family member, you are uniquely armed with your loved one’s history to help investigate potential resources to be ready when your loved one is willing and able to receive them.

∙ Buckle up for the long haul – Addiction is a chronic disease that must be managed. Your loved one will need to learn to manage his or her disease over the long term. The majority of people will not find recovery the first time they seek help. This does not mean that treatment was a failure. Understand that your loved one’s recovery may take years and that progress is almost always very slow as the brain takes a long time to heal. When your loved one starts recovery, your family’s work is still in its early stages. “

–Tom Bannard

Tom Bannard, CADC, MBA, is the coordinator for Rams in Recovery, VCU’s Collegiate Recovery Program, and the Administrative Director for COBE, The College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute at VCU. VCU strives to be an open, accepting and supportive environment for students in recovery or who need help with a substance use disorder. You can contact him at recovery@vcu.edu.