Addiction, A Whole-Family Challenge
How the symptoms and behaviors of addiction create family challenges and impact all family members and at the same time create opportunity to heal the entire family.

Let's begin by Rethinking “Addicts”, shall we?
Stereotypes are pretty dangerous things, wouldn't you say?
They bias opinion about a group of people, and are the basis for racism and bigotry. Massive amounts of research is available on stereotype threat, where the mere mention of a negative stereotype is enough for people to react based on internalized negative beliefs. However, when it comes to “addicts”, the stereotypes are so ingrained that if you don’t want to accept them, then you are considered in denial and not ready to get help.
In the September 16th issue of the NY Times, John Tierney writes about the research of Dr. Carl Hart, an experimental psychologist at Columbia University who has done some very interesting research on addiction and the behavior of “addicts.” In the article, Mr. Tierney describes Dr. Hart’s research bringing regular users of crack and methamphetamine into a lab to research the kinds of decisions they make. According to traditional stereotypes, these “addicts” should be unable to control themselves when given the option to use more of their drug of choice. However, this is not what happened. Instead, when given the option of using versus delaying their own gratification to get a monetary reward at the end of the study, several weeks away, the participants showed an overwhelming response against typical “addict behavior” and chose to take the money several weeks down the road.
What Dr. Hart’s work shows is that not all addicted people act as stereotypically “expected”, and lumping together ideas about people with substance abuse issues is a way to perpetuate stereotypes. “Addict behavior” is nothing more than a way of suggesting that “they” behave differently from “us” and therefore we are not alike. This is, however, not true! People struggling with substances make decisions using the same reward/consequence model that we all use, and the more that we can find and see the similarities between “us” and “them”, the easier it will be to help get everyone the treatment that they need.
Some people find words like “addict” helpful, and if that is the case for an individual, then I encourage its use! However, for many people, the insistence that they accept the label in order to get help is a significant barrier. By applying that label and the associated stigma to over 23 million people, we reinforce negative stereotypes that are, as in the case of Dr. Hart’s studies, not accurate for the individuals. We recognize the damage of stereotyping other groups of people; let’s widen our recognition to people who struggle with substance use.
Center for Motivation & Change
Stereotypes are pretty dangerous things, wouldn't you say?
They bias opinion about a group of people, and are the basis for racism and bigotry. Massive amounts of research is available on stereotype threat, where the mere mention of a negative stereotype is enough for people to react based on internalized negative beliefs. However, when it comes to “addicts”, the stereotypes are so ingrained that if you don’t want to accept them, then you are considered in denial and not ready to get help.
In the September 16th issue of the NY Times, John Tierney writes about the research of Dr. Carl Hart, an experimental psychologist at Columbia University who has done some very interesting research on addiction and the behavior of “addicts.” In the article, Mr. Tierney describes Dr. Hart’s research bringing regular users of crack and methamphetamine into a lab to research the kinds of decisions they make. According to traditional stereotypes, these “addicts” should be unable to control themselves when given the option to use more of their drug of choice. However, this is not what happened. Instead, when given the option of using versus delaying their own gratification to get a monetary reward at the end of the study, several weeks away, the participants showed an overwhelming response against typical “addict behavior” and chose to take the money several weeks down the road.
What Dr. Hart’s work shows is that not all addicted people act as stereotypically “expected”, and lumping together ideas about people with substance abuse issues is a way to perpetuate stereotypes. “Addict behavior” is nothing more than a way of suggesting that “they” behave differently from “us” and therefore we are not alike. This is, however, not true! People struggling with substances make decisions using the same reward/consequence model that we all use, and the more that we can find and see the similarities between “us” and “them”, the easier it will be to help get everyone the treatment that they need.
Some people find words like “addict” helpful, and if that is the case for an individual, then I encourage its use! However, for many people, the insistence that they accept the label in order to get help is a significant barrier. By applying that label and the associated stigma to over 23 million people, we reinforce negative stereotypes that are, as in the case of Dr. Hart’s studies, not accurate for the individuals. We recognize the damage of stereotyping other groups of people; let’s widen our recognition to people who struggle with substance use.
Center for Motivation & Change
Us vs. Them
Stigma creates family problems because we think, or have been instructed, to draw the line, that we must create boundaries and bottom lines. But what we end up doing much of the time is creating a bigger divide and more hurt when what we really need to be doing is building bridges, creating stronger community, and safer connections.
In error we say to our loved one that they have to get their life together and then we can be a family. Until then we are done with you. I understand how it gets to this point. Some people who experience addiction act in less than pleasant ways at times. But the essence of the person is not gone but rather they are buried under the causes and conditions that created the unsavory behavior and symptoms.
I say that you can have a safe and healthy relationship with someone that isn't doing what you want them to do.
I say that, when someone is struggling the last thing you do is kick them to the curb. How did we develop the strategy where causing more pain, is the way to healthy behavior?
We say that when times are tough you come together! You gather everyone who is concerned! You find those that know how to help! You find out how to become an influencer, an ally! You find your own recovery through self-care, and self awareness.
I remind people that the best thing you can say to someone who is struggling with Substance Use Disorder is; "I love you and it must be hard for you to be in such pain, felling sad and frustrated, unseen and unheard but what I also know is that together we can discover a more healthy way for you to relieve your pain and finally heal your wounds and even live your life's purpose. Are you willing to join me in finding a way that works for you, that doesn't keep wounding you but instead brings you back to life?"
In error we say to our loved one that they have to get their life together and then we can be a family. Until then we are done with you. I understand how it gets to this point. Some people who experience addiction act in less than pleasant ways at times. But the essence of the person is not gone but rather they are buried under the causes and conditions that created the unsavory behavior and symptoms.
I say that you can have a safe and healthy relationship with someone that isn't doing what you want them to do.
I say that, when someone is struggling the last thing you do is kick them to the curb. How did we develop the strategy where causing more pain, is the way to healthy behavior?
We say that when times are tough you come together! You gather everyone who is concerned! You find those that know how to help! You find out how to become an influencer, an ally! You find your own recovery through self-care, and self awareness.
I remind people that the best thing you can say to someone who is struggling with Substance Use Disorder is; "I love you and it must be hard for you to be in such pain, felling sad and frustrated, unseen and unheard but what I also know is that together we can discover a more healthy way for you to relieve your pain and finally heal your wounds and even live your life's purpose. Are you willing to join me in finding a way that works for you, that doesn't keep wounding you but instead brings you back to life?"