Addiction Hurts Families
When someone we love struggles with substance use and addiction, families often live with fear, sadness, grief, chaos, stress, dread, frustration, despair.... and the list goes on....
Families want to help but often receive conflicting advice about what to do.
"You should intervene."
"You should protect them."
"They need help."
"You need to keep them safe."
" You are powerless."
"They need to hit rock bottom."
"They need 'tough love'."
“You should kick them out."
How does a family know what to do?
We can help
We look forward to sharing up-to-date evidence on how to help ourselves, our families and our affected loved ones.
Families need and deserve support. As we gather with other families to learn and share, we can find understanding, hope, compassion and comfort in dealing with this difficult and poorly understood disorder. Together, we can apply proven strategies to address this destructive disorder and find solutions and preventive measures for improved family health. By helping ourselves we learn we are helping other families too.
Come and learn with us
-
How this disease works
-
How changes in the brain affect behavior
-
How families can cope with this disease
-
How can adults help children cope with disease and develop resilience
-
What can families do to promote recovery for their loved one
-
What families do that may not be helpful
For many the use of drugs and alcohol can lead to a changes in the brain disorder called substance use disorder (SUD). The most severe form of substance use disorder is called addiction.
Addiction to drugs and alcohol have reached epidemic proportions in the United States.
Currently substance use and addiction are the leading causes of death in people ages 18-45.
Learn from the Experts
In October, the Adult Enrichment Program of Rochester Public Schools is offering a four-part series, Understanding Addiction: Finding Hope for Individuals, Families and Communities.
Whether you are a professional, a concerned citizen who wants to be better informed, or a worried family member searching for answers, please join us as we examine this misunderstood disorder and be inspired to make a difference.
For more information and registration information, click here.
Millions of people live with this disorder....and so do their families and children.
Many factors contribute to the development of this disorder but at the most basic level, substance use disorder leads to changes in the brain that cause a person to keep using drugs and/or alcohol in spite of the harm it causes to themselves and to those they care about.
For generations, this disease has been misunderstood. Misperceptions, myths and false information are common.
Fortunately, scientists are beginning to unravel the mysteries of this disease. New knowledge is leading to more effective strategies to promote recovery. Recovery is not only possible...it is probable.
CPFHR
CPFHR is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) academic-community partnership dedicated to helping the families, caregivers, and children of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), who may be profoundly impacted by SUD but are often invisible to the system and the community.
Children, families, and caregivers affected by someone else's addiction, such as a parent’s SUD, often experience a chaotic lifestyle. They live with shame, isolation and fear; financial instability; food and housing insecurity; domestic violence; mental illness; and more.
Families often don’t know how to find the help available to them. We aim to help bridge the gap between children and their caregivers and the resources they need.
We believe that:
-
It's possible for the person with SUD to recover and for the family to heal.
-
It's possible to provide evidence-based resources and support to help children and families thrive despite parental SUD.
-
Together we can create and sustain compassionate community pathways to family health and recovery.
We Believe
It's possible for the person with SUD to recover and for the family to heal.
It's possible to provide evidence based resources and support to help children and families thrive despite parental SUD.
Together we can create and sustain compassionate community pathways to family health and recovery.
CPFHR
CPFHR is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) academic-community partnership dedicated to helping the families, caregivers, and children of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), who may be profoundly impacted by SUD but are often invisible to the system and the community.
Children, families, and caregivers affected by someone else's addiction, such as a parent’s SUD, often experience a chaotic lifestyle. They live with shame, isolation and fear; financial instability; food and housing insecurity; domestic violence; mental illness; and more.
Families often don’t know how to find the help available to them. We aim to help bridge the gap between children and their caregivers and the resources they need.
We believe that:
-
It's possible for the person with SUD to recover and for the family to heal.
-
It's possible to provide evidence-based resources and support to help children and families thrive despite parental SUD.
-
Together we can create and sustain compassionate community pathways to family health and recovery.
Stories
Addiction is a family disease that impacts each family differently. Every family has their own story.
Here, in their own words, are true stories from people whose lives have been changed by addiction.
Names and some identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
-
Community-based participatory research to better understand the experiences and needs of children and their caregivers. Results of our first research study were published in August 2021.
A second protocol in development will directly assess the needs of children and caregivers influenced by SUD in the family.
-
Harm reduction, including Narcan training to prevent overdose deaths.
-
Improving continuity of care by developing partnerships to bridge gaps in services for individuals with SUD and their families.
-
Family support
-
An ongoing weekly Family Recovery Group beginning in early 2022, using a combined educational and peer support model.
-
Development of a caregiver "toolkit" that will include information and practical strategies
to aid caregivers as they support children day by day.
-
Current Projects
Resources for Families