The legal ramifications of enabling a loved one’s drug or alcohol addiction

Last week, Anna Nicole Smith’s partner / lawyer, Howard K. Stern, and two doctors were charged with multiple felonies for illegally supplying the drugs that ultimately led to her accidental fatal overdose in February of 2007. Several prescription drugs were found in the room in which she died.

It was reported that all three men were charged with “prescribing, administering or dispensing a controlled substance to an addict,” among other felonies. The two doctors, Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich, were also charged with illegally obtaining prescriptions for opiates. (Read the CNN article on the charges)

Anna Nicole’s sad case puts a spotlight on the extreme ramifications, in this case death and legal action, that can occur when enabling a loved one’s drug and/or alcohol addiction. While supplying the drugs to an addict is an obvious enabling activity, some enabling behaviors are not as overt.

Many family members and friends of addicted men and women don’t know how to handle the effects of the addiction. They don’t know how to act. How they can help. If they can help. And they probably aren’t taking care of themselves in the meantime.

Crossroads for Women will be offering its 4-week educational series, “The Effects of Addiction on Friends and Family,” starting on April 7th at its outpatient office in Portland, Maine. The series helps those affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol problem – whether that person is in treatment, recovery or still in active addiction – by educating them on the basics of addiction, the recovery process and how to take care of themselves while also being supportive of the addicted loved one. Find out more about the series and how to sign up

In the end, the more knowledge a person has on addiction and its effects on everyone around it, the better he or she can cope.

Read more on enabling a loved one’s addiction:

Anna Nicole’s Enablers Face Felony Charges (from About.com’s alcoholism blog)

Are you enabling your loved one’s alcohol or drug problem? (from this blog)

technorati tags: Crossroads for Women, Anna Nicole Smith, Howard K Stern, enabling, addiction

Opportunity for Friends and Family Members to Learn About a Loved One’s Addiction

Crossroads for Women will be holding it’s last educational series of the year, “The Effects of Addiction on Friends & Family,” starting on November 4th in Portland, ME. The 4-week series is for those friends and family members with a loved one that has a drug or alcohol problem. It is also helpful for those who work with people affected by addiction. Whether the loved one is in recovery, treatment or in active addiction, this series helps people learn more about addiction, how to cope with the loved one and also take care of themselves. The response to the series has been phenomenal all year long. Here are just a few comments from those who attended the series in September:

“All aspects of the program were beneficial. It was just what I needed to understand the disease and its impact on the family and on children. Also, the information learned here will help me to go forward and make changes in my own behavior that will prove helpful, I’m sure, to my new family and to myself. Thank you for a quality, affordable program.”

“Everything was great.I came with two other family members and really saw how we were acting as a unit and our own denial, and how to move from it. I feel the furthest away from the situation compared to other family members, so I was amazed at how much I was able to get out of this class and feel that I will now be able to really contribute to helping get us all back on track! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed this series and looked forward to it every week, and I feel better equipped. I’m very thankful to you for starting this for we friends and family and loved ones of addicts.”

The holiday season can be an especially stressful time for those in recovery, in treatment or in active addiction. This stress can also be difficult for friends, family members and everyone around the addicted person. If you or someone you know if affected by drug or alcohol addiction and is in the Portland, ME area, you will find this series helpful. For more information, call Crossroads for Women at 207.773.9931, email or visit the Crossroads for Women website.

technorati tags: friends, family, addiction, Crossroads for Women, education

5 Things Families Can do to Support Loved Ones in Recovery

Addiction to drugs or alcohol can cause a lot of disruption in families. The disruption can occur even when the addicted person has received treatment and is moving in the path of recovery. The following 5 suggestions for family members dealing with a loved one new to recovery come from HBO’s Addiction website:

1. Educate yourself on the recovery process for individuals and families.
2. If your recovering family member is living with you, provide a sober environment to support that recovery.
3. Seek professional and peer support (from a group like Al-Anon) for your own physical and emotional health. Support your family member’s involvement in treatment aftercare meetings and recovery support groups.
4. Assist the recovering family member with assistance in locating sober housing, employment, child care, transportation or other recovery support needs.
5. Assertively re-intervene in the face of any relapse episode.

Read the full text of the article by William L. White, MA

Crossroads for Women also offers education and counseling designed specifically for friends and family members of women and men who struggle with addiction. Our next 4-week educational series, “The Effects of Addiction on Friends & Family,” starts on September 9th and still has slots open. The series explores the basics of addiction, the recovery process and how to be supportive of the loved one while also taking care of you and is held in Portland, Maine. Find out more about the series or Crossroads for Women’s services for friends and family members.

technorati tags: addiction, recovery, HBO, Crossroads for Women, effects of addiction on family, support