United Recovery Project Family Group

Here at United Recovery Project Group, we know that family is an important part of your substance abuse recovery. And for many individuals, the family provides invaluable support throughout one’s sobriety journey. For this reason, we have a designated family support group where family members discuss programs and important treatment options weekly. Family members can stay in the know when it comes to understanding treatment options, including detox, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and aftercare programs.

Substance Abuse Disorder Criteria: What to Look for as a Family Member

Recognizing substance use disorder criteria is one of the first steps to overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. It’s important for family members to look out for and recognize these signs of drug abuse. If you meet any of the below criteria, you may have a substance use disorder:

• You can’t stop using substances, no matter how hard you try
• When you don’t use a substance, you develop withdrawal symptoms
• Your performance at school or work declines because of alcohol or drug use
• You take dangerous risks when you use substances
• Substance abuse damages your relationships with friends and family members
• You spend most of your time using drugs or recovering from them

If you or someone you know meets any of the above criteria, remember it’s never too late to recover. United Recovery Project offers a full-scale drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for individuals of all backgrounds. Clients start their journey in a professional detox center, where they flush toxins from their system and overcome withdrawal symptoms. After detox, they enter one of our various rehabilitation programs, including residential treatment or our partial hospitalization program (PHP). 

Open Discussions About Substance Abuse for Family Members

Substance abuse shouldn’t be a taboo topic. In fact, failure to talk about substance abuse candidly and honestly can exacerbate one’s addiction. Therefore, drug and alcohol addicts must have open conversations with their friends, family members, therapists, and other licensed rehabilitation specialists. 

If you know someone that suffers from substance abuse, consider asking these questions:

• What drug abuse characteristics does the individual exhibit?
• Does the individual have a mild, moderate, or severe substance abuse disorder?
• How have drugs impacted their relationships with others?
• Do they recognize that they have an addiction, and are they willing to seek treatment?

Addiction’s Impact on the Brain

Addiction impacts more than someone’s work performance, personal relationships, and spending habits. Scientific proof tells us that addiction has a profound impact on the brain. As a family member of someone suffering from substance abuse disorder, knowing the science behind addiction is vital.

Let’s think about it this way: Imagine going for a two-mile run and feeling great afterward. That’s because exercise triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters known as chemical messengers. The release of serotonin makes you feel happy and, in extreme cases, euphoric. Dopamine, on the other hand, makes you feel rewarded and motivated. 

Drugs and alcohol also impact the brain’s natural neurotransmitters – primarily dopamine. When you take a drug like heroin or methamphetamine, your brain’s reward center becomes activated by dopamine. Dopamine release makes us feel great and trains our brains to continue seeking this sought-after sensation. Therefore, your brain’s response to drugs and alcohol is why these substances are so addictive. Over time, your brain becomes re-wired, and you’ll have difficulty breaking your substance abuse habit.

After the brain becomes re-wired, stopping drug and alcohol use becomes extremely challenging. For example, many people experience severe withdrawal symptoms, such as heightened anxiety, depression, aches and pains, and irritability. For this reason, it’s important to wean off drugs in a professional detox center where you’re under the care of licensed professionals that can help ease your symptoms with holistic and medicinal remedies. 

Addiction Risk Factors

Family members should understand addiction risk factors because it helps them learn why one person may be at a higher risk than someone else and vice versa.

You may wonder, “are some people more at risk of becoming addicted than others?” The answer is yes – people with certain risk factors may have a likelihood of becoming addicted.

The first risk factor is biology. According to research, genetics make up 40-60% of one’s chances of becoming addicted. These biological factors include the prevalence of addiction in your family and epigenetics. Furthermore, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety could increase your chances of using substances. In fact, many individuals have a concurrent condition – substance abuse disorder with an underlying mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or depression. Many substance abuse treatment programs have tailored plans that concurrently address the needs of those suffering from mental health conditions and addiction.

Your environment is another risk factor that plays a role in addiction. For example, if you’re exposed to drugs at a young age, there’s a higher chance you might become addicted. Those who experience traumatic life events, such as domestic abuse, may also turn to drugs and alcohol.

Learn More About United Recovery Project Family Group

Want to learn more about how our family group helps facilitate substance abuse recovery? Please get in touch with us today to speak with one of our staff members.