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[From http://www.cfiwest.org/sos/brochures/family.htm]

Family Recovery

Many family members and friends of alcoholics and individuals addicted to other drugs come to a program of recovery reaching out for help. They come desperately looking for help in the way of answers to their questions about chemical dependency and the difficulties in their relationships that this dependency has caused. Although they are not the ones who are addicted, their lives have been greatly affected by the addiction of someone they love.

Until these family members and friends learn about chemical dependency, their well-meaning actions may further alienate relationships; they may escalate conflict and violence with the chemically dependent person.

By coming to SOS, family members and friends can learn about the Cycle of Addiction. When they can perceive the phases of chemical need and denial of learned habits within the chemically dependent person, the Cycle of Sobriety will be understood as an individual journey for that person. It is then that supportive action by the family and friends can begin, improved relationships can begin, and family recovery can begin.

This path to recovery starts by understanding that sobriety is the responsibility of the addicted individual. The family has its own recovery cycle: that of recovering from the feelings of being responsible for the chemical addiction.