Drug and alcohol addiction impacts everyone within a family. Though the person battling the disorder is often faced with the most challenging of symptoms and pressures, the family suffers as well. Addiction treatment does not just support the individual with the substance use disorder but also provides resources and healing opportunities to the family or support team. Family care is a big part of the work we do at Victory Addiction Recovery Center.

How Are Families Impacted by Addiction?

Addiction impacts families in many ways. People in the family may struggle with the following: 

• Feeling abandoned or less important than the person with the addiction
• Anxiety about what could happen
• Helplessness
• Anger and frustration toward the addicted loved one and the situation
• Guilt about how it might be their fault
• How or whether to communicate with the addicted loved one
• The onset of a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression
• Embarrassment about what others might think

It’s not uncommon for families to feel all of those things and still want to be there to help and support their loved one. 

What Is Family Care Night?

One of the ways that our drug and alcohol treatment center in Lafayette, LA, supports families is to provide Family Care Night. Each Thursday evening, families are invited to come to the treatment center to participate in a group meeting led by a counselor. The meeting provides education about addiction and help with creating realistic goals and expectations. Families are reminded that residential addiction treatment isn’t a simple, straightforward cure. It’s an opportunity to learn in a safe environment.

Topics during these meetings include things like:

• Disease model of addiction
• Codependency
• Boundaries
• The 12 Steps
• Self-care 

Family Week

About the third to fourth week of treatment, family week takes place. The program lasts two to three days, depending on the number of people who visit. Though the schedule and activities can change, there are several things you can expect from the week.

• Education: You will learn more about the disease of addiction and how it affects the family.
• Wellness and defense mechanisms: You’ll learn how to facilitate wellness for the entire family and how to communicate without defensiveness.
• Letters: Your loved ones will share letters that provide you with insight into what they are thinking, feeling, and needing.
• Forgiveness: You’ll learn about acceptance, forgiveness, and setting boundaries.
• Activities: You’ll engage in various activities to learn more about your loved one’s needs.

Expect to have some fun but also to learn about your role in the addiction recovery of your loved one. Yes, Family Week is about spending time together, but it is also an opportunity to build your skill and ability to manage your part of this recovery process. Keep in mind that family therapy, where you can work one-on-one with a counselor alongside your loved one, is available to you as well from our treatment center.

Can Family Visit During Treatment?

Having the ability to connect with loved ones while in addiction treatment is very important. We believe in facilitating that when it is beneficial. Outside of any structured activities, phone calls are welcomed from family members. You can also drop off items for your loved ones or send mail to them.

In addition to this, each Saturday morning, there’s time scheduled to visit and attend events with your family members. You will be able to visit with staff as well. 

Your Family Matters, and So Do You

Our team recognizes the need to support the entire process of healing, which means being there for the person struggling with substance use disorder, but also for the family. You’ve been through a lot, too, and you need the tools to support your recovery as well.

Reach out to Victory Addiction Recovery Center today to learn more about helping your loved one get the care they need.