The Park Center (202 E. Murray Park Avenue)

League Rules:

- Matches will consist of 3 games to 25 cap @ 27

- This is a recreational league.

- 2009 USA Volleyball Rules. All nets violations will be called.

- Teams may double on the first contact over the net.

- Coed Rule applies: A female must contact the ball if there are more than one contact on a side.

- Teams must stay in order when serving and receiving a serve.

- Free substitution in center back position. Players must play a full rotation before subbing out.

- Players can be on only one (1) roster per league. All participants must sign the roster.

- Coed is a minimum of 2 females on the court at all times. (Max of Aces total players on the court at one time) – Illegal players will result in a team forfeit and/or individual will be suspended from the league.

- All players must be 18 years+. This is an adult league.

- Children must be supervised at all times. Unsupervised children will result in a forfeit and/or loss of tournament play and/or suspension from the league.

- Less than 5 players will result in a forfeit.

- Forfeit Rule: 1st Match set one-5 minutes and set two-10 minutes after 1st set forfeit. Remaining Matches set one game time and set two 10 minutes after 1st set forfeit.

- Zero tolerance for unsportsman like conduct. Individuals or teams will be suspended or removed from Murray City Programs.

- Athletic clothing and footwear (non-marking gym shoes) must be worn. – No food or drink in gym area.

- No watches, hats or jewlery allowed.

UNDERSTANDING THE 12 STEPS – an insiders point of view

In keeping with helping  to understand the 12 steps I’ve written this from my own experiences and those who have helped me over the years to become free from addiction. I hope it helps you too.

Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives have become unmanageable.

This is without a doubt the most important step and really the simplest to do, yet we balk at it. Why? We initially shared with society the idea that an alcoholic was a bum, a hobo, you know the guy on the street looking for change to get that bottle of $2.00 wine. Many alcoholics may become that, but they were alcoholics way before they were homeless. I know you’re probably saying I’m not like that so how can I be an Alcoholic or Druggy?   Well Take a step back. Examine your life and be honest with yourself. Can you control your drinking or drugging or are you in the words of this step “powerless.”
Alcoholics and Drug users are good at lying to others and even better at lying to themselves. The fact that you can “stop for a while” must be weighed up against the truth of what happens when you take the first drink or snort. I could stop for months at a time, but when I stopped in at the pub for that “quick beer” before I went home, I was unable to stop until I gotten a good buzz on.  You know that numbness feeling in your cheeks.  But, I could stop for months at a time, the hardest part for me was realizing that it never just stopped at “one”.   For this reason I now choose NOT to Drink.  Because I know in my soul I can’t stop.

Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

For the agnostic or the atheist, this is a difficult step. It requires us to suspend intellectual faculties and cynicism. My feeling is that my intellect and skepticism didn’t help me avoid beer.  This “God” person never saved anyone from dying that I knew.  So how in the hell was he going to save me.  For me this was one of the most struggle-some of steps to accomplish – I had to let go – yea right! took years to understand that line. Now some 20 years later I laugh at myself – if only I had done this sooner.

Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and out lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

How do I understand God? I have been Christian for years, having been brought up in a religious home. If a God exists and he/she/it is omnipotent, how can I comprehend this being?  I read the bible, and went to church and there were so many unanswered questions that I gave up – hence for me my life changed for the worse.
Again, take a leap of faith, step off the edge of the cliff and into the realm of faith. Whatever understanding you need, God will give you. The only way of approaching faith is to surrender human intellect.
It is not important that your perception of God match anyone else’s perception. It may be difficult, for example, for someone subjected to years of abuse by their father may have trouble thinking of God as a “father”. That doesn’t matter. Define God in the way you can. Just surrender your life as it is now to that which you call Your God or Higher Power.

Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

This is so difficult for everyone.  After years of conning ourselves and others, we now have to shift away from this mind set and examine ourselves warts, blemishes, and all, and they aren’t very attractive. Yet it cannot be escaped. To 
change our dependency on alcohol or drugs, we need to change ourselves, this cannot not be done without ruthless self examination.  This is a daily process not one that is to be taken lightly either. For every day we step on toes and hurt someone’s feelings.  It’s understanding the reasons, and whys that helps us to be better people.  This leads us to the next step.

Step 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

It’s easy enough to admit your faults to God, who can be viewed in abstract terms. It’s more difficult to admit them to yourself, but to someone else! No way! Stop, let me off this roller coaster. I Quit!
Don’t stop now. This is necessary. It acts as an unburdening of all the things you have kept secret for so long from family and friends. As difficult as this may be, it is one of the most important steps in overcoming your addiction.
To understand this step, it is necessary to understand the disease of alcoholism and drug abuse itself. It is a disease which works on three levels. These are the physical, the mental and the spiritual. To confess to God helps remove the spiritual disease and to confess to another human being eases the mental anguish. It also says to us that after years of avoidance we are now going to stop lying to ourselves and to others and to make the necessary behavioral changes to overcome our addictions.

Step 6. We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

This seems easy, but there must be a word of caution here. The words are easy, but behind the words must be an earnest desire for the removal of these flaws in our self. Nobody can do this but you, so don’t look to a sponsor or family member to get you through this one and Do not pay lip service to this stage.

Step 7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

Here again sincerity is everything. This is a final admission that we have shortcomings. Just as before this can be one of the hardest steps to achieve for you are going against everything that is natural to you – you are trusting in something you can’t put a face to.

Step 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Wait a sec, didn’t I do that already? Nope!  You just admitted you had flaws. 
now comes the task of making amends to them. There are probably so many names it will scare the day lights out of you, I know it did me.  When you have completed the list, go back and add other names from your earliest memories as a child. The more cleansing you do here the stronger you’ll become and stay in the future.  There will certainly be those you have either forgotten or avoided and yes you have to add them as well. Remember you can’t hide anymore!

Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure others.

Stop! I want to get off again  I feel that this step is perhaps the most difficult and certainly the most intimidating. In the last step we did all those wonderful people we loved, well guess who we get to approach now… yep those that we forgot. 
Many tears will be shed with step, as you admit not only to yourself and to those you approach how hard and cruel you’ve been to them over the years.  So be prepaired to walk lightly on this step.  Wait, a sec, what’s the Injure mean then? Name calling and fighting are a given here.  I and a friend came darn near to blows when I approached him.  I had to use a 3rd party to make contact with them because there was so much dirt over the years that had to be taken care of.  You also have to look at that persons circle of friends, they may be unwilling to accept the “new you” and rather hold onto the “old you” this too may cause friction in this step. You’ll be judged from this day forward by them and any friends for weakness.

Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

It is necessary for us to continuously monitor ourselves for faults because the two biggest dangers to an alcoholic and drug user are guilt and resentment. An additional danger is to become complacent. This step asks us to continue to live with humility and a knowledge of our frailties. As a method of conducting this step try the following way of taking your personal inventory:
A.Become quiet and become aware of the presence of your higher power. 
  B.Ask your higher power for guidance to see and understand the inventory you are taking. 
  C.Review the period since you last did this. Look for instances when you were guided by your higher power and look too at the instances where you did wrong. 
  D.Examine the instances of error and determined who and why you responded or did not respond to the guidance of your higher power. 
  E.Plan how you can more effectively conduct your life in harmony with the will of your higher power.
This may not work for you, but try it. The lovely part of this is that it also incorporates the 11th step.

Step 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.

It is through God as we understand him/her that we find our strength to stay sober and to change the old habits that came so close to destroying us. This is your personal time to reflect on all that has and will be. Listen to your inner voice, and your “gut”, pay attention when you are in a situation that you shouldn’t be and act accordingly.

Step 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and drug users, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

This step is vital as it shows us what we were and it is in serving that we find redemption.  You become the hope of others who will look upon you for strength when they are weak. Be ready to support and guide them as you begin your new way of life free from your personal addiction.
And always remember that the 12 steps are a way of life for you now.  With out them you’ll be right back where you were when you started so practice them every second of the day and before long you’ll find that today is over and you will have made it –  clean and sober.  Then tomorrow do it again, and before long it will be a week, and then a month, and then a year.   You have the choice to change but it’s your choice to make so what are you waiting for take the leap of faith.

12-steps-recovery.com/library/page7.html

Many addicts find that after taking the first step in admitting that they have a problem, the choice of different treatment programs is baffling and knowing where to turn is all but impossible. There are, however, some things that can be done to try to separate the outstandingly good addiction treatment programs from the mediocre.

Firstly, it is wise to consult with your family doctor or other doctor who has been seeing the patient about their drugs issues to see what they would recommend as the best course of action. Doctors often have a vast network of contacts, and will hear from other medical professionals and associates about which treatment programs are good and which ones have a poor success rate. Doctors may also be able to help secure a place on a hard to get into treatment program by pulling strings or using their influence as a medical professional.

Addiction Treatment Program

Another good starting place for finding a good addiction treatment program is by calling the volunteer run helplines dedicated to speaking to people with the same specific issues. The volunteer counselors who staff the helplines or run the self-help groups will have spoken to many dozens of other people in similar circumstances and will know which programs have had good success rates and which ones have not been able to help users break their cycle of drug use.

Another important factor to consider is the level of insurance cover held by the individual. Some insurance policies will cover treatment in most types of program, whether that be residential, out-patient, or by seeing a doctor or psychologist for regular appointments. These sorts of programs can be costly, especially programs which involve staying in a center as an inpatient. If insurance cannot cover the costs of the treatment either in whole or in part, it is important to try and work with these facilities for discounts and to determine other forms of payment.

The Right Addiction Treatment Program

When evaluating the different sorts of addiction treatment programs on the market, it is important to find out what sort of qualifications and accreditations the health professionals running them have. Although most treatment programs and centers are reputable and are run by properly qualified and well-meaning professionals, there are some which are not and at first glance it is easy to be seduced by a glossy website promising the answer to all of your problems. It is always wise to spend time asking about the training and methods used.

The individual should also consider what sort of program is best suited to their personality and likes and dislikes. Most treatment programs are a combination of group and individual treatment offering the opportunity to learn to open up as well as to work on individual issues that lie at the core of the problem.

In the United States, the most commonly used illegal drug is marijuana.  More than thirty percent of seniors in high school halve already tried this drug at least once and more than half of them say that they could obtain marijuana easily if they wanted it. Decision making and memory are impaired by marijuana use and teens who take this drug are more likely to develop anxiety disorders, depression or risky behavior.  You can prevent your teen from using marijuana by knowing the facts about this drug as well as the signs and dangers of taking it.

Teens and Marijuana

Marijuana use and some of the signs that your child could be taking it

• Use of deodorizers and incense to disguise the odor
• Odor in the child’s bedroom and on their clothes
• Eyes that are red or bloodshot
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble remembering things that have just happened
• Paranoia
• Use of smoking supplies such as rolling papers or pipes
• Giggling and other silly behavior for no reason
• Increased appetite
• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Impaired coordination
• Poor personal hygiene
• New friends
• Depression
• Changed sleeping patterns
• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Poor school performance
• Increased truancy or absenteeism from school

How do teenagers use marijuana?

Marijuana looks like dried and crushed leaves, seeds, flowers or stems and can be either green or brown.  The smoke emitted from marijuana has a strong, distinctive odor.  The main way that marijuana is used is by smoking in either a cigarette (called a ‘joint’) or in a pipe (can be called a ‘bong’).  Some people will choose to mix their marijuana with food or they will brew it in tea.

What else is marijuana known as?

• Hash
• Pot
• Weed
• Grass
• Blunt
• Dope
• Reefer
• Skunk
• Herb
• Chronic
• Ganja
• Boom
• Aunt Mary
• Mary Jane

The Dangers of using marijuana

Short term memory is damaged by those who use marijuana.  Long term users can develop learning and memory problems later in their life.  There have also been links to cancer, respiratory damage and changes in the reproductive organs.  Chronic users of marijuana can develop suicidal tendencies, schizophrenia, as well as increased levels of depression and anxiety.

Those who use marijuana will probably tell you that it is not addictive but using it long term can lead to addiction.  Withdrawal symptoms have been reported by long term users including anxiety, irritability, drug craving, sleeplessness and decreased appetite.  Many people will also find that marijuana was the gateway that led to other illegal drugs and alcohol.

Marijuana use in teens: facts and statistics.

• According to NSDUH, in 2006, 25 million people over the age of twelve in America had used marijuana at least once in the year prior to that.
• Teenagers that take drugs are five times more likely to have sex than those teenagers who abstain from drugs.
• According to MTF, in 2008 10.9 percent of those in 8^th grade had already tried marijuana at least once as well as 23.9 percent of those in 10^th grade and 32.4 percent of those in 12^th grade.
• Of those who died or were injured in traffic accidents, 4 to 14 percent tested positive for THC.
• Teenagers are doubling their risk of developing anxiety or depression if they use marijuana every week.
• Half of all teenagers have claimed that they would find it very easy to get their hands on marijuana if they wanted to.
• Around 25 percent of teenagers have claimed that they could get their hands on cocaine easily if they wanted it.

How can I prevent my teenager from using marijuana?

• Be familiar with the warning signs.
• Speak to your child about the dangers of marijuana use.  A report by the Partnership for a Drug Free America claims that if children learn about the risks of drug taking from their parents, then they will be less likely to use drugs.
• Get to know your teenager’s friends and their parents and make sure you know where your teenager is when he or she goes out.
• If you see any signs of drug use then take action immediately before things get out of hand and the drug use becomes drug addiction.

Choosing a teen drug rehab

There are a number of drug rehab facilities out there for teenagers.  There are a few things you need to consider when making your choice such as credentials of the staff, the types of treatment that they provide, the licensing that they have and the types of after care programs on offer.  You have to think about whether your child needs to be kept in for treatment or whether an out patient facility will be better.  You could also consider whether he or she needs to be treated for a dual diagnosis of co occurring disorder or whether assisted detox is the better option.  A medical professional is the best person to speak to regarding symptoms in order to find out what type of treatment will work best.

For more information on how to get you or your teen help, call us toll- free: 877-686-6751.

Alcoholism is a disease that does not discriminate. Anyone can suffer from this addiction, regardless of race, age, or religion. Millions of people in this country alone are affected by someone who needs addiction help.

Addiction rehabs are full of people who are trying to get help. The streets hold those who aren’t. Alcoholism is a serious problem in this country. Addiction centers are available to try to alleviate some of the strain, but if someone is not willing to get help, then it is hard to help them.

1. When someone is an alcoholic, they crave alcohol. When they don’t have alcohol, their body goes through physical withdrawals. Often, when they start drinking alcohol, they can’t stop. Without the help of an addiction doctor, they may find their lives on a downward spiral of despair, with no way to fight back to the surface.

2. More than 14 million Americans are alcoholics; a grave statistic. And the more they drink, the more their tolerance goes up, meaning that they will eventually need to drink even more. Often, it is impossible for an alcoholic to quit drinking without the help of an addiction treatment center.

3. Without another kind of outlet, many people use drinking to run away from their problems. This disease is quickly becoming an epidemic and needs serious attention. Addiction centers offer an alternative for alcoholics: help.

If you or someone you know is an alcoholic, don’t let the problem get any bigger. Recovery Ways is a residential treatment center that can give you some hope.

We provide relief from addictions by offering natural remedies to get your life back in order. We try to heal you from the inside, focusing on mental outlook, nutritional, and physical health.

Don’t let alcoholism rule your or your loved one’s life anymore. Call us today so we can help you or your loved one get back on the road to recovery.

Substance abuse and chemical dependency continue to be serious issues that plague the landscape of American culture. In many cases, those suffering don’t get the help they need early enough because those around them don’t recognize the symptoms. In cases where symptoms are recognized and patients referred to help, the chances of full recovery and an addiction-free future rise substantially. If you suspect a friend or family member is suffering from substance abuse, you’ll probably recognize at least some of the following symptoms.

1. Emotional and Social Withdrawal

While most drug addictions usually start through the casual use of drugs in a social environment, someone who becomes chemically dependent normally ends up withdrawing from normal social activities. The addict generally becomes alienated from friends and family, confining himself to his room or even completely disappearing for days at a time. This behavior may come on either gradually or suddenly.

2. Poor Performance at School or Work

Because substance abuse alters the mind and the emotions, poor school and work performance inevitably follows. For example, a student who got straight A’s prior to his chemical dependency may see his grades plunge to failing levels. At work, the usually dependable and trustworthy employee becomes one who does not finish his tasks, is often late, and might even steal from his employer.

3. Unexplained Memory Lapses

As chemical dependency progresses, individuals will be more likely to suffer episodes involving blackouts. The resulting memory lapse is troubling for the addict at first, and he may be willing to talk about it until he figures out what’s causing it. Unexplained lapses in memory should never be discounted. Even if they are not caused by substance abuse, they could be a precursor to serious medical issues.

4. Unexplained Financial Loss

It goes without saying that illegal substances cost a lot of money. The recreational drug user will spend a significant amount of money while the person who is chemically dependent will spend everything he has. If a friend or family member suffers unexplained financial loss, and it can be reasonably assumed there are no other factors that could account for the loss, consider the possibility of chemical dependency.

5. Failed Attempts to Stop Using Known Substances

Substance abusers often find themselves involved with, and dependent on, more than one chemical. Alcohol is a good example. A family member or friend who makes it known of his determination to quit using alcohol, yet repeatedly fails in doing so, is probably addicted to alcohol at the very least. He may also be dependent on other substances he has managed to keep secret.

The symptoms of substance abuse and chemical dependency are sometimes difficult to detect. But more often than not, if friends and family members make the effort to diligently observe, they can recognize at least some of the telltale signs. If you believe someone you know has chemical dependency issues, seek professional help as soon as you can.

If you’re suffering with chemical dependency and looking for help in breaking free, you’ve taken the first step by visiting our website. Recovery Ways is committed to helping you overcome substance addiction and regain control of your life. But we want you to understand that the recovery process is not easy. It is a long process which requires time and perseverance, usually extending well beyond the time you might spend in a residential treatment program.

Unfortunately, many of the people suffering from chemical dependency enter a treatment program with unrealistic expectations of success. Some expect a quick-fix solution that will help them break their addiction with very little effort. That’s not the way it works. You didn’t become an addict overnight; you will not break your addiction overnight either. But with the dedicated care and concern of a licensed, clinical treatment center, and the love and support of friends and family, you can break the addiction cycle and reclaim your life, chemical-free.

When you first enter a residential treatment program you will probably find the early days to be refreshing, almost like a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. That’s because you will finally be getting the help you know you need which relieves some of the guilt associated with chemical dependency. But after a few days, the reality of the treatment program will begin to set in, and it will become easy to be discouraged and frustrated. During these times it is important for you to persevere; to refuse to give up; to commit yourself to completing your treatment – not only for your own benefit, but also for the benefit of your loved ones. If you determine to push through your fears and frustrations, you will come out the other side into a bright tomorrow.

When your residential treatment program is completed, an aftercare program will be there to help you stay on track as you learn to adjust to your new, addiction-free life. Support groups are an excellent outlet for you to share both the joys and temptations of life, with others who are living through the same experiences. And spiritual leaders will be essential in helping you focus your life in order to find the meaning and purpose you were lacking during your time of substance abuse. The combination of all these support resources is your key to remaining chemical free into the future.

You can overcome addiction with the help of Recovery Ways. All you need is the time, perseverance, and firm commitment to take your life back. Make that commitment today. Do it for your family, for your friends, and for yourself.

Substance abuse and chemical dependency are on the rise as the significant factors in the breakup of the American family. As more and more people are beaten down by the negative circumstances of life, those who find they cannot cope are easily tempted to find solace in drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, when casual use of chemical substances becomes addiction, it can tear apart the very fabric of a family.

For spouses, children, and other family members, the first step in helping their addicted loved one is to perform an intervention. An intervention is almost always uncomfortable, but it’s often the only thing that will shake up an addict enough to get his attention.

Since substance abuse, by its very nature, alters the way the mind operates, those suffering from chemical dependency are unlikely to think rationally, for long enough periods of time, to understand they have a problem. Without the intervention of family or friends, a drug addict may never be able to see through the haze to the point of seeking help.

How an individual family goes about an intervention is a matter of circumstances and personal preference. Some people with chemical dependency need their family members to get in their face and deal harshly with them; others do better with a gentle coaxing. Still others need to see the damaging effects of their behavior on others before they will even begin to get a minimal understanding of the seriousness of the problem. If you need to do an intervention, and you’re not quite sure how to go about it, contact a local support group or treatment center for their advice. The Internet is also a great resource for helpful ideas. Regardless of how you go about it, the most important thing is that you do it.

If you’ve been part of an intervention that appeared unsuccessful, don’t give up. Some studies suggest that many addicts require several interventions before they will seek help. If your first or second intervention did not get the attention of your loved one, try again and again until you succeed. Family members need to be as persistent in their intervention attempts as the addict needs to be in his treatment.

Finally, it’s common for family members to feel guilty before, during, and after an intervention. Whatever you do, don’t give in to those feelings of guilt to the point where you don’t honestly deal with the situation. If guilt is allowed to control the intervention, you are more likely to become an enabler than a motivator to action. Rest assured, once your loved one admits his problem and enters a treatment program, your feelings of guilt will be replaced by the joy that comes from recovery.

If you have a friend or family member whom you suspect to have chemical dependency issues, don’t delay. Organize a group of people and perform an intervention as soon as you possibly can.

Ecstasy is one of the most popular drugs on today’s market due to its easy availability and the perception among younger users that it’s not addictive. And this despite the fact that many studies of Ecstasy use indicate that as many as 43% of users show symptoms of dependency while up to 60% suffer regular withdrawal symptoms. Even more alarming is a recent study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse that revealed 25% of those questioned knew of a friend or classmate who used ecstasy. According to the same study, 17% of respondents knew more than one user.

The fact is Ecstasy is a wildly popular drug. Especially among those of the younger generation who tend to frequent the rave party scene. On the street the drug is known by other names including Scooby snacks, disco biscuit, essence, and X. And one of the biggest problems with this drug is the fact that almost no one except the original maker really knows what’s in a given batch of pills. In fact, emergency room doctors are more and more sounding the alarm regarding patients who come in with Ecstasy-related issues and doctors who cannot treat them effectively because they can’t identify what drugs have actually been ingested.

It is common for the makers of Ecstasy to dilute their formula with other drugs in order to make it cheaper to produce. The combination of these drugs can sometimes prove fatal. This is especially true when users "stack" Ecstasy; meaning they take more than one dose and combine it with alcohol or other drugs. Young people especially, do not comprehend the danger of this practice and it often kills them.

If there’s any good news about this drug, it’s the fact that in its pure form (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA) it may show some clinical promise as a treatment for some psychiatric disorders. Of course, even if the FDA were to approve such a use, it is still illegal and dangerous as a recreational drug.

Even though Ecstasy is touted as modern LSD, it is much more dangerous and should be avoided completely. Whether you’re a casual or regular user of Ecstasy, you’re playing Russian roulette every time you swallow a pill. Now is the time to break free. The feelings of happiness and euphoria you experience from the drug are temporary, at best, and addictive at worst. Now is the time to replace those empty feelings with the lasting satisfaction and happiness that are created by meaningful and productive life activities. Forget the Ecstasy name, it is very misleading.

Individuals who are addicted to chemical substances are not the only ones who suffer from their dependency. Their family members also suffer tremendously, and often in silence. Seeking treatment and healing from chemical dependency is essential in restoring the lives of both the patient and his loved ones. Without effective treatment, not only are the lives of addicts destroyed, but their families are also destroyed with them.

Recovery Ways believes in the importance of family in helping clients to fully recover. Strong family relationships not only help carry the client through the treatment program, but also provide much of the support needed to help the client remain clean in the future. Helping the chemically dependent person is also helping the family, because the two are inseparable.

Families Often Suffer in Silence

Due to the fact that substance abuse and addiction carry a stigma in our society, many family members of addicts are ashamed to tell anyone of their situation until it becomes too stressful to manage on their own. Parents are especially hard hit in this area, suffering in silence at a time when they could use as much help and support as possible. In addition, their secret family issues put so much stress on them that it affects their work, hobbies, and most everything else they do.

Families Often Suffer Financially

When a person reaches the stage of habitual chemical dependency, it’s only a matter of time before his personal finances run out. In order to continue his addiction, he must obtain the money for his habit from other sources; this often involves stealing from family members. Even in cases where parents or siblings give the money freely, drug addiction will drain all of their resources as well. It’s not uncommon for the families of drug addicts to suffer financial ruin due to the actions of the addicted member.

Families are Often Divided

Probably the most serious affect substance abuse has on the family is that it causes division. Different family members who are aware of the substance abuse issues generally have different opinions on how to approach the problem. Furthermore, addicts are very adept at pitting one family member against another in order to gain sympathy or financial support. This division can be so severe as to split husbands and wives, drive away siblings, and completely destroy a previously healthy family unit.

It goes without saying that those who abuse drugs are risking the health and well-being of their family members as well as their own. If you’re experiencing chemical dependency problems, now is the time to seek help before your family is lost. As many an addict will tell you, the loss of your family is not worth the temporary pleasure obtained from illegal substances.