Recovery Connections Network

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

“The only thing that will truly change the addict’s deep, emotional attachment to their drug and the personal meaning they give it is something deeper, more personal, more emotionally and more spiritually meaningful. The only way to compete with the meaning that drugs have for the addict is to validate that meaning and then help the addict find greater meaning from things in recovery."
—Kevin McCauley and Cory Reich in their book Addiction

Read more in "When Recovery Comes Home."

How does one prepare for a loved one’s return home after residential treatment? How do we re-engage in daily life together in ways that support one another's well-being?

Educating ourselves about the nature of this disease informs our attitude toward it. When family members understand that the problem loved ones face is a disease rather than a weakness of character, the long-standing stigma of addiction will not interfere with their response. The stigma is toxic and stands in the way of effectively dealing with this disease at all its levels. When we can come to clear terms with the fact that addiction is a disease that has affected everyone in the family, we can respond more effectively and more compassionately.

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