The potentially devastating impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on family and concerned significant others has been well-documented, but there is hope. Loved ones can learn strategies to help them cope with the impact of SUDs, and these strategies will in turn help them to support recovery efforts.Family-friendly and accessible, A Family Guide to Coping with Substance Use Disorders provides readers with important information on substance use, symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment. Written by experts in the field of addiction medicine, this book enables readers to understand substance use disorders from the perspective of their affected loved one, and provides a positive perspective emphasizing that recovery is certainly possible. Using real-world examples, the book illustrates how SUDs can impact family units and family members, including children, and then provides practical strategies for supporting a loved one with a SUD and for addressing its impact on readers' own thoughts, behaviors, and emotional states. Helpful resources and links are provided, enabling readers to gain access to information and organizations that support families in recovery.

UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERSChapter 1Alcohol and Drug ProblemsChapter 2Substance-Related DisordersChapter 3Causes of Substance Use DisordersChapter 4Effects of Substance Use DisordersChapter 5Treatment of Substance Use DisordersChapter 6Recovery from a Substance Use DisorderChapter 7Relapse After a Period of RecoveryChapter 8Psychiatric Illness Co-occurring With a Substance Use ProblemChapter 9How Substance Problems Affect the Family UnitHELP FOR THE FAMILY AFFECTED BY A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERChapter 10How Substance Problems Affect Individual Family MembersChapter 11Treatment and Recovery for the FamilyChapter 12Recovery for Individual Family MembersChapter 13Helping Children Affected by a Parent's Substance Use DisorderFINAL THOUGHTSAPPENDIX: Resources for Families