Adult & Teen Challenge USA has worked with teens and adults battling addiction for years, but we know that it isn’t just a relationship with God that helps in recovery from addiction. The love and support of a family is a vital component in putting them and keeping them on, the path to Christ. If you have a teenage child or loved one who is battling addiction, and you’re considering contacting us, we have some advice on your role as a member of the family in their recovery from addiction.
It’s Not Just the Parents
Firstly, we want to address the importance of the whole family in recovery from addiction. We’ve emphasized the role of the parents in a previous blog, but the support network goes wider than just Mom and Dad. Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins should all have some involvement in being there for your recovering teen. However, it’s important to remember to respect the privacy of your teen, whichever part of the recovery process they’re involved in. Recovery from addiction is hard, and the recovery program at Adult & Teen Challenge is intensive and exhaustive. Completing the our program is an achievement, and the reward is a closer bond with a caring family, as well as a caring God. Give your teen the space they need, and respect their wishes if they want to keep their family support network close-knit.
Understanding, Not Judging, Addiction
Misunderstandings, misconceptions, and negative assumptions about addiction can be damaging, especially when they come from family members. It’s understandable that you may have some resentment towards a loved one who has been affected by addiction, especially if it’s led to changes in their behavior and a selfish attitude. But it’s important to remember that the right kind of recovery from addiction means a positive change that anger and emotional distance can’t produce. No matter what your teenager or loved one has done because of their addiction, practice the forgiveness instructed by Christ, and be mindful of the personal struggle that led to their reliance on drugs or alcohol in the first place. Persecution and judgment risk sending them spiraling back into their problems.
Maintaining Discipline and Order
After their recovery from addiction, structure is an extremely important part of keeping a former addict on the right path. This can be the most challenging part of offering familial support to an afflicted loved one, especially when they’ve put you through an emotional wringer. We teach discipline through physical, mental, and spiritual dedication, and equip teenagers and adults with the tools to stay away from temptation in the outside world. As a family, it’s important to come together and learn, teach and practice this discipline, not only for them, but for the whole family.
