Addiction has been declared a disease by the AMA (American Medical Association), SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) and many other reputable medical associations and organizations.  But did you know that drug addiction (also referred to more recently as substance use disorder or SUD) affects more than just the individual and is often considered a family disease?  There is a lot of information out there for men and women suffering from substance use disorder (SUD).  But what about families?  Thus, this article attempts to provide some insight for families who are struggling and provides 5 practical tips for helping their loved one who suffers from substance use disorder.

1. Advantages of Family Therapy for Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

When a family is dealing with the disease of addiction, family therapy can be beneficial during the addiction treatment and/or long-term recovery process. Generally, the addicted individual is considered the patient, …