Addictions can be beaten, and millions can and do overcome debilitating dependencies and live better productive lives of sobriety. Families need to retain a sense of hope for a better future, and can never give up on recovery as the only acceptable goal.
Addiction is a disease, and a hallmark of this particular disease is relapse and the need for continuing treatment, often throughout life. A relapse after a successful period of sobriety can be emotionally devastating to a supportive family, and after enough slips and relapses, even the most optimistic of families may begin to feel hopeless and feel the resolve to help slipping away.
Complete recovery and abstinence may occur after a first participation in drug treatment or it may take ten tries. Addiction may rear its head at any time in life, and families always need to be ready to help and support, regardless of how many times relapse occurs.
page last update Aug 05, 2010
