The most troublesome factor for anyone who knows an alcoholic or drug addict is a lack of understanding and knowledge about the disease.  So the first step in any treatment for friends and family is education.  Alcoholism and drug addiction sufferers face many issues in life, even if they have already received treatment and are living in recovery.  For those who love them, life can be equally difficult or even worse.  

Years ago, effort was necessary on the part of the general public to learn about the disease aspects of addiction.  Books about alcohol dependence and drug addiction were available in stores and libraries, in “self-help” sections.  But it was a treasure hunt to seek detailed medical, psychological, and statistical information.  In general, those who found these sources were individuals in those respective fields and not many in the general population.

Information is everywhere on the internet today, especially regarding alcohol abuse and drug abuse.  Blogs that offer opinions and recovery stories are interesting and relatable.  Professional blogs and websites tend to provide valuable and categorized facts, like this one, that help individuals to learn and understand the disease of addiction.  And detailed medical, psychological, and statistical information can be found at professional organization and government websites.

Television shows about addiction, intervention, and alcohol and drug treatment have become more common than ever.  Even the shows that highlight celebrities can be educational if the viewer focuses on the recovery efforts made by counselors, rather than seeking tabloid style entertainment.  To avoid the temptation away from education, it is better to also watch shows that involve people who are not celebrities.

A new series on TLC’s cable channel titled Addicted currently airs on Wednesdays at 10pm.  As with most cable TV shows, new episodes are rerun several times over the week that follows so it is easy to catch.  Each episode follows an individual who suffers from alcohol dependence or drug addiction through the addiction, treatment, and recovery from an interventionist’s point-of-view.

TV series’ and specials that show the activities of addicts are very effective teachers.  Viewers who suffer from addiction, or know someone who does, can relate to the issues faced by the individuals profiled each week.  Even more importantly, viewers can see the connection from addiction to problems, and the differing reactions of addicts and their loved ones.

Friends and family members often feel alone when they see a loved one sink into the depths of alcoholism or drug addiction.  Many secrets, stigma, and emotions surround the disease.  It traps people in a world of hopelessness, where the decision to fix the problem takes a leap of faith.  TV shows about addiction can build bridges of knowledge that make the path to recovery easier to travel.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides family services as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.