Family addiction help
Family Addiction Help
Family addiction help is here. That family addiction help can be for a son or daughter of any age, teen or older. Family addiction help is also available for spouses and partners. And family addiction help is available for adult brothers or sisters. If your loved one suffers from drug abuse or alcohol abuse, there is very specific family addiction help here that will likely make a world of difference.
CRAFT: Community Reinforcement and Family Training
So, we focus on you. That's the key to reaching your addicted love one and it's the key for family addiction help.
The “community reinforcement” approach is a behavioral treatment for addiction aka substance use disorder that aims to make healthy, drug-free or alcohol-free living more rewarding than substance use by reinforcing positive, sober behaviors.
The “family training” part covers the family’s role in this which is to support and to encourage sobriety, and to do this in a collaborative way. We will go over this in detail within the ten week family sobriety program and for this family addiction help, the family’s role will be based in positive communication skills, in effective problem solving, in supporting clean, sober behavior with positive rewards, and in removing any rewards for alcohol abuse or drug abuse behavior. In addition, the family can overall encourage positive, sober behaviors along with healthy activities.
We will also cover the importance of stepping back and allowing natural consequences to take place, and the importance of looking after yourself first and foremost and that’s looking at your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Lastly, we’ll talk about inviting your loved one into an addiction treatment program or encouraging them to stay in their treatment, and to encourage them to work their sobriety program. We’ll also cover drug treatment and alcohol treatment options. We’ll talk about relapse worry, as well, and what the family can do and say should relapse occur. In all, the 10-week CRAFT series provides in depth family addiction help.
CRAFT is an evidence-based program. Using the CRAFT approach, the person with addiction seeks treatment at a rate of about 70% which is 2-3 times higher than interventions or 12-step programs. The Source for this is Partnership to End Addiction https://drugfree.org/ . In addition, CRAFT covers a variety of drug addiction and alcohol addiction scenarios, and I will aim to make it as customizable to each of you, as I can. The last point to make for the stats on CRAFT is that the family members that have completed CRAFT report back that they’re noticing improvements in their own lives, and in their own happiness.
3 Major Goals:
1. Reduce loved one’s harmful substance use.
2. Engage the user into treatment or into staying in treatment.
3. Self-care. That’s about your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing, and that is independent of the substance user’s behavior. So however it goes, you look after yourself.
Family addiction help includes knowing the family has more power than they know:
Most substance abuse starts in the teens with 18-25 year-olds being the most affected and the most at risk for entrenched addiction. With this key age for substance abusers or the start of substance abuse, the good news is 90% live with family, as do spouses and partners, so that is where we focus. We focus on family members and the positive impact the family can make as far as effective influence. Even with older children that live away, the family bond is still there, and we use that bond to our benefit to encourage sobriety and habits that support sobriety. So, if you need help with son's addiction or you need help with daughter's addiction, or if you need help with spouse's or partner's addiction, CRAFT is the perfect answer and a great source for family addiction help.
In this first CRAFT session, we also talk about Narcan, aka Naloxone, which is used to reverse a drug overdose. This can be purchased at any pharmacy (typically about $45) and you may be able to get it for free at some harm reduction centers, so that might be worth a Google to find one near you. We go over the procedure for this, and we talk about the importance of also calling 911 because many will go into a second overdose even after seeming to recover with a Narcan dose. That’s because fentanyl can be just that powerful, and it is in so many drugs now. So, if your loved one abuses drugs and lives with you or spends extended time near you, it would be prudent to have Narcan easily available. There is also an app called OpiRescue (supported by SOR funding/approved by CRAFT) that would be helpful to have on hand.
The definition of addiction, aka substance use disorder, has changed in recent years. The new definition that is widely accepted is now much more precise and is: Addiction is a brain disease that is treatable.
Some takeaways: You are not alone. Take hope in the fact that many have solved their problems and learned to live more satisfying lives. And never give up. Relationships are a process. They exist over time. You will have many tries at improving your relationships, and that is as you want those changes. CRAFT is designed to move at the pace that is right for you and your loved one.
More takeaways: Everyone is unique, and you will have your own insight. We will all have input in group but you are the one that is right there with a more complete picture. In group, share what you know because it helps you work it all out and it helps others in the group as they also get help with their own situations. So, CRAFT is not a cookie-cutter program. So for family addiction help, even though we have commonality, everyone’s situation will also be unique.
Remember this: Not all burdens are yours to carry. With substance abuse, it is their job to take care of themselves by finding sobriety or staying in recovery. And with either, it is their job to work a drug program or alcohol program. It is on them, not on you. Yes, you will have a part to play, an influential part, but the truth is their recovery is on them. This does not mean we passively wait, but instead we do our part to support this future sober decision.
Note: For each CRAFT session, group participants might share very personal information. We can all speak freely, and that’s with the implied expectation that all group members will be respectful and discreet with this information. Participant input, specifically, is to be considered private and will stay within the CRAFT group. Participation in CRAFT includes agreeing to these terms.
As mentioned, you will know your person better than anyone. So, use your good judgement as you implement any of the CRAFT family addiction help. My job is to present the CRAFT concepts with the hope that you can make good use of this relevant family addiction help, and your CRAFT group attendance matters. This group covers CRAFT and how CRAFT might best be utilized.
FAQs:
1. How is CRAFT different from other family addiction help groups? When the family uses the CRAFT approach, the person with addiction seeks treatment at a rate of about 2-3 times higher than other programs, including intervention or 12-step (Source: Partnership to End Addiction; drugfree.org). Part of the reason for that is CRAFT covers how to ask your person to go to treatment or work their sobriety. CRAFT also gives the family precise training to increase the odds of success. Specifically for Alanon/Naranon vs CRAFT, here is an excellent podcast that explains those differences https://www.alcoholfree.com/listen/podcasts/episode/podcast-68-how-do-alanon-naranon-differ-from-craft-an-in-depth-comparison .
2. Can I simply use the family addiction support program at my son’s treatment facility instead of CRAFT? Typically, the weekly family addiction groups at treatment facilities cover some of what you need, but it is not complete and it is not CRAFT. You will get a lot of insight there so yes, absolutely take part but complete the CRAFT program, in addition.
3. Can I attend the CRAFT sessions here and there and fill in the gaps by reading the recap emails? CRAFT is a commitment and attending each week should be a top priority. The material we cover in group is more in depth than the recap emails, and the recap emails are not meant as any kind of short-cut for the family members. Of course, missing a session might happen, but it should be a rare thing.
4. My partner completed addiction treatment and is going to meetings, and I’m feeling pretty good about where we are now. So, I no longer need CRAFT, right? You absolutely do need CRAFT as your revised family situation is still all too new. You want to be the best you can be at supporting sobriety and to encourage healthy, sober behavior going forward. CRAFT will take you there. Your partner is doing their work and you should do your part, as well. It’s an 10-week commitment and it’s so worth it.
Nancy Hamilton - Certified CRAFT Coach