The Economic Consequences of Opioid Addiction in America

Community or Informal Screenings and Discussions
Viewing Understanding the Opioid Epidemic can be a great tool to raise awareness and
get people, young and old, to recognize the seriousness of this widespread and
misunderstood issue. This can be a valuable opportunity for coaches, parent
organizations, or educators, for example. Whatever the setting or audience, choosing
any of the following suggestions can lead to an engaging and powerful event.
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The Powerful Impact of Family Therapy on Addiction
January 19, 2018 by Stephen R. Honaker, LMHC, Family Therapist
Family therapy is of critical importance when treating a teen or young adult with a
substance use disorder.
When addressing substance use, it’s often helpful to look at the family system as it can
have a significant impact on how a teen or young adult succeeds in treatment. Family
system simply refers to the roles people play in their families and the patterns of
interaction with each other.
A “system” is defined as a collection of inter-related and/or inter-dependent parts
that comprise a more complex whole.
For example, the human body is comprised of major organ systems such as the
respiratory, digestive and immune systems, all which work together to keep the body
functioning. Each system depends, directly or indirectly, on all the others to maintain
overall health.
The same is true of the family system.
Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling) can strengthen the family system
by examining the relationships within it and the family interactions — with the goal of
helping family members learn to:
Recognize unhealthy patterns of interacting
Understand how one’s own behaviors impact others
How to set and manage boundaries
Communicate more effectively
Here are two examples of my approach to working with families to help illustrate the
benefits of this process. Note: names have been changed.
Meet Devon
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