If we zoom as far out as possible from our loved one’s substance use disorder (SUD), we see that its effects ripple into larger social systems. 

We see that the person struggling with addiction is taking the brunt of the most obvious consequences: poor bodily and mental health, financial troubles, professional issues, discrimination, involvement in dangerous situations, etc. 

We then see that the people closest to the individual suffer immensely as they watch, enable, or cut off their loved one due to the SUD. 

We then see a prolonged battle that can involve hospitals, law enforcement, medical professionals, counselors, and employers who lose hardworking employees. At this level, it’s easier to see how addiction impacts society at large. Entire industries have sprouted to address substance dependence and abuse. As a result, millions of dollars are poured into trying to control the opioid epidemic and the soaring levels of addiction in the United States. 

When it comes to an individual’s recovery, family and friends hold great power. Their positive participation, support, and cooperation during their loved one’s recovery process give that person a much greater chance of success. Keep reading to learn why we at St. Joseph Institute place so much emphasis on the power of family. 

The Science Behind Familial Involvement in Sobriety

The family unit is a microcosm of an entire society. Healthy families indicate a healthy nation. When families and friends support their loved ones in treatment, they start to dismantle the negative effects they sustained throughout the addiction. When the addicted individual sees that family and friends are serious and willing to support recovery, they’re more likely to enter treatment, complete it, and sustain it long-term. By the same token, it can be devastating for individuals when their family members are not supportive of their recovery. 

How Do Family and Friends Play a Positive Role in Recovery?

When family members can prioritize their mental health and well-being, they become stronger and gain energy for helping their loved one remain sober. The journey toward healing is challenging but extremely rewarding. Families can begin the healing process in family therapy and family programming provided by the treatment facility. The science behind familial participation in SUD recovery treatment plans branches out into three concrete areas:

1. Health care professionals working directly with families to encourage a loved one to go to treatment
2. Motivating family to actively participate in group or family therapy with the individual while they’re in treatment
3. Offering services and resources to family members throughout treatment and for a period of time post-treatment 

St. Joseph Institute’s facility in Port Matilda, PA, is more than equipped to provide personalized plans and resources in each of these areas. 

How Does St. Joseph Institute Provide Treatment For Families in Port Matilda, PA?

We hit on all three of the aforementioned areas of evidence-based familial participation in our multifaceted recovery program. We prioritize education about addiction, making it that much easier for families or support systems to understand how SUDs work. We then provide in-depth individual, family, marital, and group counseling opportunities to empower you and support your healthy processing of the SUD. Lastly, we’re passionate about providing support and community post-treatment through our continuing care and relapse prevention programs. At St. Joseph Institute, we believe that by zooming into the family unit, we empower and protect everyone involved in the addiction crisis in our society at large. 

Beat Relapse and Join Thousands of Families in Recovery

Our team of healthcare professionals at St. Joseph Institute is composed of experts in addiction recovery, substance abuse, depression, chronic pain, grief, family therapy, anxiety disorders, and more. We not only understand deeply how to approach the issues that your loved one faces, but we also know how to work with family members through their personal pain and mental health struggles. 

Contact us today to begin the healing process. In the meantime, feel free to learn more about relapse prevention and how much more possible it is when family members are involved!