![]()
When a loved one struggles with addiction, it’s easy to become resentful. Families see the addicted person prioritizing their substance above all else, but what they often don’t see are the underlying challenges leading to those actions. For many people who struggle with addiction, as AdCare Rhode Island explains below, there’s a mental illness for which alcohol or drug use is a misguided attempt to cope.
kAmp55:4E:@? 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD AC6D6?E 7C6BF6?E=J E@86E96Cj E96J’C6 2=>@DE =:<6 E9F?56C 2?5 =:89E?:?8] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96J 6I:DE 2A2CE 7C@> @?6 2?@E96C[ 3FE E96J’C6 2 4=2DD:4 4@>3:?2E:@?] p3@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A2]@C8^>@?:E@C^a_ac^_e^DF3DE2?46\FD6\5:D@C56CD\D6C:@FD\>6?E2=\:==?6DDQm92=7 @7 2== 25F=ED :? E96 &]$]k^2m H:E9 2 D6C:@FD >6?E2= :==?6DD 2=D@ 92G6 2 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 25F=ED H:E9 DF3DE2?46 FD6 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@5A9A]962=E9]8@G^962=E9JA6@A=6^@3;64E:G6D\2?5\52E2^3C@HD6\@3;64E:G6D^>6?E2=\962=E9\2?5\>6?E2=\5:D@C56CD^:?4C62D6\AC@A@CE:@?\A6@A=6\DF3DE2?46\FD6\2?5\>6?E2=\962=E9\5:D@C56CD\H9@\86E\EC62E>6?E\3@E9\>9>5\_fQm@7E6? 86E EC62E65 7@C @?6 5:D@C56C 3FE ?@E 3@E9k^2m]k^Am
kAmx? 96C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?:52]?:9]8@G^23@FE\?:52^?@C2D\3=@8^a_aa^_h^255:4E:@?\@7E6?\8@6D\92?5\:?\92?5\@E96C\>6?E2=\:==?6DD6D\3@E9\>FDE\36\255C6DD65Qm3=@8k^2m[ }@C2 '@=<@H[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @? sCF8 p3FD6 W}xspX[ 5:D4FDD6D E96 D:8?:7:42?E 5:77:4F=EJ @7 C64@G6C:?8 7C@> 255:4E:@?] $96 9:89=:89ED E92E :? >2?J 42D6D “2 4C:E:42= 6=6>6?E :D @G6C=@@<65i 4@\@44FCC:?8 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?5:E:@?D]” $96 2=D@ 5:D4FDD6D E96 5:77:4F=EJ >2?J 7:?5 :? 2446DD:?8 42C6 7@C >6?E2= 962=E9[ DE2E:?8 E92E D@>6 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 D@ =24<:?8 :? C6D@FC46D E92E “:E :D 62D:6C E@ 86E :==:4:E 5CF8D E92? 256BF2E6 >6?E2= 962=E9 42C6]”k^Am
k9bmr@\~44FCC:?8 p55:4E:@? 2?5 |6?E2= x==?6DDi %96 #F=6[ ?@E E96 tI46AE:@?k^9bm
kAm(:E9 >@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D2>9D2]8@G^52E2^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^C6A@CED^CAEdf`da^a_ad\?D5F9\56E2:=65\E23D^a_ad\?D5F9\56E2:=65\E23=6D\D64EhA6]9E>RE23h]ea2Qm`g]c >:==:@?k^2m 25F=ED :? E96 &]$] DECF88=:?8 H:E9 4@\@44FCC:?8 >6?E2= :==?6DD 2?5 255:4E:@?[ 72>:=:6D 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 96=A 2? 255:4E65 =@G65 @?6 D9@F=5 2=H2JD 4@?D:56C E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ E92E E96:C 72>:=J >6>36C 92D 2E =62DE @?6 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?[ 6G6? :7 E96J’G6 ?6G6C 366? 5:28?@D65 @C 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? 23@FE :E]k^Am
kAmp55:4E:@? 2?5 >6?E2= :==?6DD 7C6BF6?E=J @44FC E@86E96C 7@C ?F>6C@FD C62D@?D] u@C DE2CE6CD[ E96J D92C6 >2?J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^239A4]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ac^_a^&?56CDE2?5:?8\#:D<\2?5\!C@E64E:@?]A57QmC:D< 724E@CDk^2m[ H9:49 :?4=F56 EC2F>2 2?5 25G6CD6 49:=59@@5 6IA6C:6?46D WprtDX[ 86?6E:4 GF=?6C23:=:E:6D 2?5 3:@=@8J[ 49C@?:4 DEC6DD[ 9:DE@CJ @7 72>:=J DF3DE2?46 >:DFD6[ 2?5 D6=7\>65:42E:@? 62C=J :? =:76]k^Am
kAm%C2F>2[ DA64:7:42==J[ :D 2 >2;@C 724E@C 7@C >2?J A2E:6?ED :? EC62E>6?E 7@C 255:4E:@?] |2?J A2E:6?ED H:E9 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56CD 92G6 D@>6 7@C> @7 EC2F>2 W@7E6? >F=E:A=6X] #6D62C49 56>@?DEC2E6D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?:52]?:9]8@G^C6D62C49\E@A:4D^EC2F>2\2?5\DEC6DDQmDEC@?8 =:?<k^2m 36EH66? 6IA@DFC6 E@ EC2F>2E:4 6G6?ED 2?5 DF3DE2?46 FD6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AED5]G2]8@G^AC@76DD:@?2=^EC62E^4@@44FCC:?8^EI0DF50G2]2DAQm}62C=J cdTk^2m @7 A6@A=6 H:E9 =:76E:>6 !%$s >66E 4C:E6C:2 7@C 2 DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C W$&sX] }@E @?=J 5@6D EC2F>2 :?4C62D6 E96 C:D< @7 56G6=@A:?8 2? $&s[ 3FE 92G:?8 2? $&s :?4C62D6D E96 C:D< @7 EC2F>2] x?5:G:5F2=D =:G:?8 :? 24E:G6 255:4E:@? 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 EC2F>2E:4 6G6?ED E92? E9@D6 H:E9@FE] |2?J :?5:G:5F2=D 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D :? 2 G:4:@FD 4J4=6 :? H9:49 6IA@DFC6 E@ EC2F>2E:4 6G6?ED AC@5F46D :?4C62D65 2=4@9@= 2?5 5CF8 FD6[ H9:49 E96? AC@5F46D ?6H EC2F>2E:4 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 :D 2=D@ E96 :DDF6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^962CED2?5>:?5D]?2>:]@C8^2CE:4=6D^D6=7\>65:42E:?8^QmD6=7\>65:42E:@?k^2m] xE’D ?@E F?4@>>@? 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D 6IA6C:6?4:?8 5:DEC6DD:?8 DJ>AE@>D @7 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56C E@ “>65:42E6” E9@D6 DJ>AE@>D H:E9 5CF8D 2?5^@C 2=4@9@=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= p==:2?46 @? |6?E2= x==?6DD W}p|xX] '@=<@H 6>A92D:K65 :? 96C 3=@8 E92E D6=7\>65:42E:@? :D 2 4@>>@? H2J 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D E@ 4@A6[ DE2E:?8 E92E >2?J A6@A=6 FD6 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@= “E@ 4@A6 H:E9 E6>A@C2CJ DEC6DD E@ >2?286 DJ>AE@>D @7 49C@?:4 >6?E2= 962=E9 AC@3=6>D E92E E96J >2J ?@E 6G6? <?@H E96J 92G6]”k^Am
kAm%9:D E6?5D E@ H@C< :? E96 D9@CE E6C>[ E@ D@>6 6IE6?E[ 2==6G:2E:?8 E96 :>>65:2E6 5:DEC6DD] w@H6G6C[ @G6C E96 =@?8 E6C>[ }p|x ?@E6D[ :E E6?5D E@ H@CD6? E96 D2>6 DJ>AE@>D E96 A6CD@? H2D ECJ:?8 E@ EC62E 2?5 >2J 42FD6 >2?J @E96C DEC6DD@CD E92E 42? H@CD6? E96 D6G6C:EJ @7 E96 5:D@C56C]k^Am
kAm$F3DE2?46 FD6 >2J 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D 3J 42FD:?8 =@?8\E6C> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?:52]?:9]8@G^C6D62C49\E@A:4D^4@\@44FCC:?8\5:D@C56CD\962=E9\4@?5:E:@?DRAC@3=6>D\@44FCQm492?86Dk^2m :? E96 2C62D @7 E96 3C2:? EJA:42==J :>A24E65 3J >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD]k^Am
k9bm%96 x>A24E @7 |6?E2= x==?6DD @? t2C=J #64@G6CJk^9bm
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@=F>3:2ADJ49:2ECJ]@C8^?6HD^>6?E2=\962=E9\2?5\DF3DE2?46\FD6\5:D@C56CD\@7E6?\8@\92?5\92?5\3@E9\>FDE\36\255C6DD65QmtIA6CED D2Jk^2m E92E >6?E2= :==?6DD >2J 4@>A=:42E6 255:4E:@? C64@G6CJ] t2C=J C64@G6CJ :D 2 A6C:@5 E92E :D 2=C625J :?E6?D6=J 492==6?8:?8 2?5 >2J 36 >256 6G6? >@C6 D@ 3J E96 AC6D6?46 @7 F?EC62E65 ADJ49:2EC:4 5:D@C56CD] v6EE:?8 D@36C 3C:?8D 6>@E:@?2= 5:77:4F=E:6D E92E 2C6 2>A=:7:65 H96? >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D 2C6 F?EC62E65] p?I:6EJ[ 56AC6DD:@?[ EC2F>2[ @C >@@5 :?DE23:=:EJ 42? EC:886C 4C2G:?8D[ :?4C62D6 C6=2AD6 C:D<[ C65F46 E96C2AJ 6?8286>6?E[ 2?5 >2<6 4@A:?8 H:E9 H:E95C2H2= 2?5 DEC6DD 92C56C]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 DF3DE2?46 FD6 :D @7E6? 25@AE65 2D 2 4@A:?8 DEC2E68J 7@C >2?28:?8 DJ>AE@>D @7 >6?E2= :==?6DD[ =62G:?8 E9@D6 DJ>AE@>D F?255C6DD65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:3C2CJ]D2>9D2]8@G^D:E6D^5672F=E^7:=6D^A6Aa_\_e\_c\__e]A57Qm=62G6D E96 A2E:6?E GF=?6C23=6k^2m] !2E:6?ED EC62E65 @?=J 7@C E96:C DF3DE2?46 FD6 5:D@C56C 2?5 ?@E E96:C 4@\@44FCC:?8 >6?E2= :==?6DD 2C6 8:G6? =:EE=6 DFAA@CE :? 562=:?8 H:E9 E96:C 5:DEC6DD 2?5 >2J 7:?5 C64@G6CJ F?2EE2:?23=6] %9:D >2J =625 E96> E@ C6EFC? E@ 5CF8D @C 2=4@9@= BF:4<=J E@ 2==6G:2E6 E96:C DF776C:?8]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?:52]?:9]8@G^C6D62C49\E@A:4D^4@\@44FCC:?8\5:D@C56CD\962=E9\4@?5:E:@?DREC62E>6?EQm}2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @? sCF8 p3FD6[k^2m 2? :?E68C2E65 2AAC@249 E@ 4@\@44FCC:?8 5:D@C56CD @776CD E96 36DE @FE4@>6D 7@C :?5:G:5F2=D 724:?8 3@E9 DF3DE2?46 FD6 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D] (96? 6IA=@C:?8 EC62E>6?E @AE:@?D 7@C 2 =@G65 @?6[ 72>:=:6D D9@F=5 AC:@C:E:K6 AC@8C2>D E92E EC62E 3@E9 4@?5:E:@?D E@86E96C[ 2?5 AC@G:56CD H9@ 42? 6IA=2:? 4=62C=J 9@H E96J 2C6 5@:?8 D@] u2>:=:6D 42?[ 2?5 D9@F=5[ 2D< BF6DE:@?D =:<6ik^Am
kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6e`e_fe`ca_g3_2`_d67cca`ae_2bba2`Qm(92E E96C2A:6D 5@ J@F FD6nk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ce7gf_h72chh6b_a`dabged2_h7346hdQms@ J@F @776C >65:42E:@? >2?286>6?E 7@C >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CDnk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6f_76aa6_h5g47c7`6_f4h`h42h_e4dd5Qms@ J@F @776C EC2F>2\:?7@C>65 42C6[ 2?5 H92E 5@6D E92E =@@< =:<6nk^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6_d4`56_g3a727__cf_h3323`7eb5cbfdQm(92E 2C6 E96 4C656?E:2=D 2?5 DA64:2=E:6D @7 E96 DE277 6>A=@J65nk^=:mk^F=m
k9bmp55:4E:@? $9@F=5?’E q6 %C62E65 :? 2 '24FF>k^9bm
kAmp A6CD@?’D H9@=6 962=E9[ ?@E ;FDE E96:C DF3DE2?46 FD6[ >FDE 36 255C6DD65 7@C =2DE:?8 C64@G6CJ] !6C E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D2>9D2]8@G^>6?E2=\962=E9^D6C:@FD\>6?E2=\:==?6DD^4@\@44FCC:?8\5:D@C56CDRiOiE6IElx?E68C2E65Ta_42C6Ta_:DTa_C64@>>6?565][3JTa_EC62E:?8Ta_E96Ta_H9@=6Ta_A6CD@?]Qm$F3DE2?46 p3FD6 2?5 |6?E2= w62=E9 $6CG:46D p5>:?:DEC2E:@? W$p|w$pk^2mX[ :?E68C2E65 EC62E>6?E “=625D E@ 2 36EE6C BF2=:EJ @7 42C6 2?5 962=E9 @FE4@>6D 7@C E9@D6 =:G:?8 H:E9 4@\@44FCC:?8 5:D@C56CD 3J EC62E:?8 E96 H9@=6 A6CD@?]”k^Am
kAm%C62E:?8 2 A2E:6?E H9@ DECF88=6D H:E9 2 5:D@C56C =:<6 56AC6DD:@? 7@C E96:C 5C:?<:?8 @C 5CF8 FD6 2=@?6 :D =:<6 AC6D4C:3:?8 >65:42E:@? 7@C 496DE A2:? H:E9@FE 6G2=F2E:?8 E96 C62D@? 7@C E96 A2:?] %9:D H@F=5 =62G6 E96 A2E:6?E 2E C:D< 7@C 2 962CE 2EE24< @C @E96C D6C:@FD 42C5:24 6G6?ED]k^Am
kAmxE’D E96 D2>6 7@C 2 A2E:6?E 6IA6C:6?4:?8 255:4E:@? 2?5 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56C] (9:=6 2 A6CD@? >2J 36 23=6 E@ H9:E6\<?F4<=6 23DE:?6?46 7@C 2 H9:=6[ E96J 2C6 :==\6BF:AA65 E@ DFDE2:? =@?8\E6C> C64@G6CJ H96? E96:C 42C6 A=2? 5@6D?’E :?4=F56 EC62E>6?E 7@C E96:C >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAmpD<:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D E@ DE@A FD:?8 DF3DE2?46D H:E9@FE 8:G:?8 E96> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2>6C:42?255:4E:@?46?E6CD]@C8^D@3C:6EJ\8F:56^4@A:?8\>6492?:D>QmAC@A6C 2=E6C?2E:G6 4@A:?8 D<:==Dk^2m 42? =625 E@ E96 25@AE:@? @7 @E96C >2=252AE:G6 @C 52?86C@FD 4@A:?8 3692G:@CD] tBF:AA:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 67764E:G6 4@A:?8 DEC2E68:6D :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ 96=A E96> >2?286 :?E6?D6 H:E95C2H2=[ D6G6C6 ADJ49@=@8:42= 5:DEC6DD[ 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|rhhhheef^Qm9:89 C:D< @7 C6=2AD6k^2m]k^Am
k9bm|6?E2= w62=E9 :D E96 u@F?52E:@? @7 $FDE2:?65 #64@G6CJk^9bm
kAm|6?E2= 962=E9 DE23:=:K2E:@? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C64@G6CJ7C:6?5=J]C:]8@G^3=@8^F?56CDE2?5:?8\4@\@44FCC:?8\5:D@C56CD\3C62<:?8\D:=6?46\>6?E2=\962=E9\2?5\DF3DE2?46\FD6Qm:>AC@G6D C64@G6CJ @FE4@>6Dk^2m 3J 96=A:?8 A2E:6?ED >2?286 >@@5[ 2?I:6EJ[ EC2F>2[ @C @E96C ADJ49:2EC:4 DJ>AE@>D[ E9FD 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ 6?8286 >@C6 7F==J :? E96C2AJ[ 3F:=5 A@D:E:G6 4@A:?8 D<:==D[ 2?5 >2<6 962=E9:6C 564:D:@?D] p55C6DD:?8 >6?E2= 962=E9 62C=J 2?5 4@?D:DE6?E=J 5@6D?’E ;FDE DFAA@CE C64@G6CJ[ :E >2<6D :E A@DD:3=6]k^Am
kAmx7 D:=@65 EC62E>6?E 92C>D 2 A2E:6?E’D C64@G6CJ 677@CED[ :?E68C2E65 EC62E>6?E 5@6D E96 @AA@D:E6] xE 3@=DE6CD 2 A2E:6?E’D 23:=:EJ E@ E9C:G6] %CF=J :?E68C2E65 EC62E>6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:>9]?:9]8@G^962=E9^E@A:4D^DF3DE2?46\FD6\2?5\>6?E2=\962=E9Qm255C6DD6D 3@E9 DF3DE2?46 FD6 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 5:D@C56CD E@86E96Ck^2m E9C@F89 2 4@@C5:?2E65[ A2E:6?E\46?E6C65 2AAC@249]k^Am
kAm*@F H@F=5?’E 6IA64E D@>6@?6 E@ C64@G6C 7C@> 2 A9JD:42= :==?6DD H9:=6 :8?@C:?8 2 >2;@C F?56C=J:?8 4@?5:E:@?[ 2?5 C64@G6CJ 7C@> 255:4E:@? D9@F=5 36 ?@ 5:776C6?E] u@C =@G65 @?6D[ E9:D >62?D D66<:?8 @FE 42C6 E92E EC62ED 3@E9 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ 8:G:?8 J@FC =@G65 @?6 E96 DFAA@CE E96J ?665 7@C 2 >@C6 DE23=6 2?5 =2DE:?8 C64@G6CJ]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2542C6]4@>^3=@8^23@FE\255:4E:@?^255:4E:@?\:D\2\DJ>AE@>^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2542C6]4@>^Qmk6>mp5r2C6 #9@56 xD=2?5k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am