Season 1 - The Critical Impact of YOUR Self Care in your Qualifier's Recovery

Siblinghood of Recovery

A significant amount of research is coming out regarding the indelible impact a Family Member's own self-care and Recovery process can make on an individual battling a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This Episode highlights the positive outcome of improving the Family system, as the Family is, "one of the most important support groups for an individual seeking recovery from an SUD". These studies support leading Addiction Therapy and Treatment Center recommendations for care to focus on improving the Family system as a methodology in supporting a Family member challenged with an SUD. For long term success in overcoming an SUD, Recovery is much more than an individual's treatment, it is a way of life for the entire Family ecosystem.
1) Qualifier - This term may be used in the 12 Step Programs or when speaking to Licensed Therapists. It may stem from the world of Insurance whereby the individual with an SUD is qualified for insurance coverage or the individual qualifies for treatment. The term is viewed as a softer description than 'addict', 'drug abuser', 'substance use abuser', etc.
2) A Multifamily Group Curriculum for Family Members of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Updates, Perceptions, and Outcomes - I wish this was a link to a free version of the paper. I can only capture all that I quoted in this Episode on my website, as I did receive a copy of the paper directly from one of the authors. If more of this information was shared, even directly on the University, College or educational institution's site, the world would be better informed of these phenomenal studies and the work these researchers are contributing to the Recovery Community.
3) Substance Abuse Statistics - excerpt from Drug Abuse Statistics.org, "53 million or 19.4% of people 12 and over have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year". Please click this link, as you'll find a breakdown of types of drugs used, demographics, and more.
4) Addiction in the family is a major but neglected contributor to the global burden of adult ill-health - Extracted from the Science Direct link provided, this paper quotes, "Evidence is presented to suggest that, globally, addiction is sufficiently stressful to cause pain and suffering to a large but uncounted number of adult affected family members (AFMs), possibly in the region of 100 million worldwide."
5) Inclusion of Family Therapy in Rehabilitation Program of Substance Abuse and Its Efficacious Implementation - Enver Ulaş, Halil Ekşi, First Published August 30, 2019
Abstract
"The family has been described as the center or heart of societal relationships. There has been a historic neglect of research in area of counseling for the family members of substance abusers. As result, treatment for individual family members affected by alcoholism and drug addiction remains a neglected component of majority of addiction programs. The study used a sample of 36 families who participated in family thera

Thank you for listening and please visit www.siblinghoodofrecovery.com for free resources, links to organizations, groups and individuals who can offer help in the Journey of Recovery towards healing from substance use disorders. If you like this Podcast, please leave a rating on wherever you're listening. It will help to get the word out.
If there is one message I can leave you with, the best you can offer your loved one battling addiction is love and a healthier you.
Walk gently, my friend.