When Family Gets in the Way of Recovery

Abstract

Alcohol and substance use often results in the individual experiencing social and interpersonal problems. Among many of the factors that impact alcohol and substance use, relationships can be part of the problem or the solution. Support systems are considered to be a key ingredient of effective treatment. Unfortunately, the individual’s social system may not be, either intentionally or unintentionally, supportive of the individual’s recovery. In an effort to address this challenge to an individual’s recovery, motivational interviewing principles and practices can be applied to families and other social systems that are ambivalent to changing problematic behaviors that may be negatively impacting the individual’s recovery or substance use cessation goals.