Family

We know what it’s like. You’re worried about your mom or dad drinking too much or using other drugs. It’s hard to have fun. It’s not a family any more. You feel scared and alone. Sad. Ashamed to have friends… Read More

The answer is so simple it almost sounds silly. If someone else’s drinking or drug use is causing you a problem, that’s too much. Some questions to ask yourself. If you’re not sure there is a problem, check out the… Read More

NO! Perhaps the most important thing for you to remember is commonly known as the “three C’s of addiction”: You DIDN’T CAUSE it. Addiction is not something that one person can do to another. An unhappy childhood, an unhappy marriage,… Read More

If your parent has a problem with drugs or alcohol, you should think about having your own personal emergency plan. If you think about this ahead of time, you will be ready if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.… Read More

If you think your parent drinks too much or is addicted to drugs, here is something you should think about: YOURSELF! When a parent has a drug or alcohol problem, it’s awful. But you are not the only kid in… Read More

There’s nothing to do about it now… or is there? If you are one of the millions of adults who grew up with an alcoholic or drug abusing parent, chances are you think about it as little as possible. After… Read More

If you were raised by someone who drank too much or used other drugs, then having to deal with these substances can create an uncomfortable and potentially risky situation. Understanding how you feel about alcohol and drug use and learning… Read More

If you grew up with parental substance abuse, then you may still be feeling the effects of it because of personal problems you have that are rooted in childhood or because of continuing family problems. If you are having any… Read More

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. — Chinese proverb If you are in recovery, you have taken the first steps on a journey that will last the rest of your life. Congratulations on all you… Read More

If you grew up with an addicted parent, creating a new family of your own can bring up a whole range of unanticipated emotions. Parenting is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking for everyone. But if you grew up with… Read More

If you are like many parents working to overcome an addiction, the hardest part of recovery may be facing up to the effects of your drug or alcohol use on your children. The information on this page is not intended… Read More

Many parents in recovery agonize over what to tell their children about why they are not living together, or about how to explain things that happened in the past when the parent was using drugs or alcohol. At the same… Read More

If you are a relative – kin – taking care of a child, then you are what is called a kinship caregiver. Maybe the child is your grandson. Maybe it is your niece, your grand-nephew, or your cousin. The fact… Read More

The Center on Addiction and the Family (COAF, formerly known as the Children of Alcoholics Foundation) is a unit of Phoenix House focused specifically on the overlap of family issues with addiction, treatment, and recovery. COAF”s mission is to ensure… Read More