Addiction is truly a family disease. When there is addiction in a family it inevitably becomes impossible to maintain functional, healthy relationships. Addiction is often generational, and findings in the medical community suggest that there may also be a genetic component.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) cites a report indicating that “study after study shows that if one person in a family abuses alcohol or drugs, the remaining family members are at increased risk of developing substance abuse problems. The single most potent risk factor of future maladaptation, predisposition to substance use, and psychological difficulties is a parent’s substance‐abusing behavior.”
Addressing co-dependent, aggressive, or abusive familial relationships is a core part of treating the whole family. Another crucially important aspect of family treatment is helping family members understand that they can’t control their loved one’s addiction but rather their own behavior.
NTS offers a Family Treatment Program that incorporates group counseling, informative lectures and Al-Anon meetings wherein families participate in three-day sessions every month while their loved one is in rehab treatment.
Family treatment can help break the isolation and dysfunction of addiction. For more information about our report, click here.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
