Addiction Resources for Families & Friends
If you care about someone who is experiencing addiction, you’re going to feel a lot of varied emotions. One of the most frustrating can be the feeling of powerlessness. But there is something you can do. Educating yourself on the disease of addiction, its effects on families, and the importance of self-care can empower you productively address substance use.
The resources below were hand-selected by Master Center’s team of certified addiction professionals. These are the same materials they recommend to their patients and family members.
Addiction Books for Families
Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are
by: Megan Logan MSW LCSW
The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free
by: Melissa Urban
The Beyond Addiction Workbook for Family and Friends: Evidence-Based Skills to Help a Loved One Make Positive Change
by: Jeffrey Foote PhD, Kenneth Carpenter PhD, Carrie Wilkens PhD
Understanding and Helping an Addict (and keeping your sanity)
by: Dr. Andrew Proulx
Addiction in the Family: Helping Families Navigate Challenges, Emotions, and Recovery
by: Louise Stanger EDD LCSW
It Takes a Family: Creating Lasting Sobriety, Togetherness, and Happiness
by: Debra Jay
Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention
by: Jeff Jay and Debra Jay
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
by: Melody Beattie
The Better Boundaries Workbook: A CBT-Based Program to Help You Set Limits, Express Your Needs, and Create Healthy Relationships
by: Sharon Martin DSW LCSW
The Codependency Recovery Workbook: How to Create Healthy Relationships, Stop People Pleasing and Overcome the Fear of Abandonment
by: Roberta Sanders
Master Center does not sell these products and does not receive a commission or other compensation if you choose to purchase them. Be sure to check your local library and don’t be shy about asking the library to acquire these titles.
Addiction Videos for Families
Is Addiction Really a Disease
Dr. Kevin McCauley
The Choice Argument
Dr. Kevin McCauley
Dopamine’s Role in Reward
Dr. Kevin McCauley
Hyperfrontality in Addiction
Dr. Kevin McCauley
Memo to Self Front Cortex
Dr. Kevin McCauley
Fostering Resilience
Dr. K.J. Foster
Put Down the Shovel
Amber Hollingsworth
Movies About Addiction
Beautiful Boy
Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.
Four Good Days
A mother helps her daughter work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse.
Ben is Back
A drug addicted teenage boy shows up unexpectedly at his family’s home on Christmas Eve.
On-Demand Addiction Webinars for Families
Self-Care Strategies for Addiction Support
Self-care is more than occasional treats; it involves consistently caring for your mental, physical, and emotional health. Taking time for self-care helps you recharge and provides the strength to support your loved one. This could include setting boundaries, eating healthy, exercising, resting, or journaling. Discover how to incorporate meaningful self-care into your daily life for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Family Dysfunction and the Roles We Play
We know it’s not easy coming to terms with your loved one’s addiction. Behaviors within the family system typically lead to everyone taking on certain roles –the hero, mascot, scapegoat, and others. The parts played by family members may lead to codependency, and members make decisions concerning what the other person needs versus taking good care of themselves first. Ultimately, the parts people play shape their sense of self and identity.
Communication & De-escalation: Keeping Your Cool in the Face of Addiction
Families experiencing addiction know that emotions can run hot. When tensions rise, the urge to react impulsively can be strong. Yet, responding in the heat of the moment often fuels the flames, making matters worse. Instead, try to stay calm and work to defuse emotionally charged conflicts for the well-being of everyone involved. By approaching communication and de-escalation with empathy, active listening, and patience, you can create a supportive environment that encourages open dialogue and positive outcomes for individuals struggling with addiction.
Community Compass: Navigating Support Services
If you are working with a family member or close friend to help them find treatment for addiction, you may also be helping them find additional resources. Community and social services exist to fill in the gaps by providing food, transportation, shelter, medical care, and more. But getting connected to these services can be challenging. In this webinar, we break down the types of resources available and how to get started — including links to search engines and aid agencies.
Beyond Rehab: Addiction Treatment Options
This webinar aims to explore these various addiction treatment options and explain how they may or may not be a good fit for the patient based on individual needs. Structured like a Treatment 101 session, this event keeps the novice in mind as we outline the differences in treatment approaches, and why your doctor might prefer one option over another.
Common Addiction Myths – Busted!
If you want to be supportive of someone with a substance use disorder, it’s crucial to recognize that much of what you think you know about addiction could be based on outdated information, misinformation, or myths. Empowering yourself with accurate knowledge about addiction is one of the most impactful ways you can support your loved one effectively.
Addiction Podcasts for Families
Mel Robbins Podcast
Every episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast is filled with the motivation and tactics you need plus deeply personal stories, relatable topics and tactical, research-backed advice to help you create a better life.
