In the past, alcoholism/chemical dependency/ addiction was considered a moral problem. Addicts and alcoholics were looked upon as weak willed people who did not care about themselves or their family and friends. Fortunately, in contemporary society, increasingly more medical doctors, clergy and other professionals realize that chemical dependency is a disease.

The recognition of alcoholism and other drug addictions as an illness implies several things:

1.The illness can be described.
2. The course of the illness is predictable and progressive.
3. The disease is primary : It is not just a symptom of some other underlying disorder. It is not a result of low self-esteem, divorces or depression.
4. It is permanent.
5. It is terminal. If left untreated, it results in mental illness or premature death.

Addiction is a disease. Some people have it, while others do not. An analogy we use with parents and adolescents is as follows: Boy Scout’s go camping, and while all may be exposed to poison oak, only some will have an allergic reaction to it. Addiction works the same way. What puts a person at risk for having this disease? The answer is a combination of environment, neurology, genetics and the potency of drugs.

Current research shows genetics plays a key role in addiction. Studies have been conducted on mice, monkeys, twins, and adopted children to support the notion that genetics can be used as a predictor when determining who will become addicted to drugs. In fact, it is the current number one predictor of addiction. This is why we want you to know, if you have a family history of this disease, that you/your child is at increased risk.

This is very similar to families who have a history of heart disease, breast cancer, strokes, manic-depression, and other biochemical and genetic disorders. If your child has addiction, it is not because of the way you raised him, or the influence of the church he attended or didn’t attend. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Addiction is biological. For those without the family history, it is still biological.. It is a function of the way the users brain chemistry was changed as a result of use at an early age…

When you attended a Parent Program, they usually talked about parental “denial & enabling.” The following are examples of enabling:

Do you “Rescue” by:
” Clearing absences at school
” Doing your child’s chores

Do you “Bargin” by:
” Keeping secrets from the other parent
” Promising gifts for sobriety

Do you still “tolerate intolerable behaviors:”
” Cursing in your home
” Disrespectful behavior to family members

If you are presently engaging in any of these behaviors or similar ones, please refer to the book, Co-dependent No More, or speak with your counselor.