The disease of addiction can be treated. To start with, it will be helpful for the family to stop thinking of a loved one as weak or immoral or lacking willpower. Addiction is not about willpower or morality. The addicted family member is sick and needs to be treated so that he or she can start to heal. Looking at addiction as a disease may conflict with some of the beliefs many families hold; however, our goal is to help families understand as much as possible about these concepts.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease, i.e., a brain disease; with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations.” Addiction is a progressive disease and is potentially fatal, if left untreated.