Family & Friends

Every person afflicted with addiction or alcoholism generally affects at least four others. Family and friends are taken “hostage” to the erratic behavior, constant lies, financial irresponsibility and overall selfish attitude that persons in the throws of addiction often exhibit. It is left to the loved ones to clean up an addict’s or alcoholic’s mess and to ensure that life remains somehow manageable.

At the same time, family and friends don’t understand what is transpiring with this person. They can’t comprehend how this otherwise decent, good natured person has been transformed into a monster. Most importantly, they care for the well-being of the addict or alcoholic – fearing the appearance of police officers at the door to tell them the bad news. The stress of addiction and alcoholism in the family is all-consuming, causing weight loss, sleepless nights, tears, and ruined workdays in those caught in a drug addict’s or alcoholic’s wake.

Understand that you are not alone. There is hope.

What Can You Do?

Come to a JACS Toronto Outreach and Education Meeting held every Thursday night at 8 pm at JACS Toronto (click here for directions on Get in Touch Page).

JACS Toronto weekly Thursday night meeting is designed for new comers with little or no understanding of the disease of addiction. Here, new comers learn about addiction and the resources available to addicts, alcoholics and family members. At the Thursday meeting, family and friends that already have experience with dealing with addiction are there to meet those new to JACS Toronto and provide understanding that only those that have lived through the same torment can.

The Concerned Person’s group (Tuesday & Thursday nights at 7:30pm) is a great resource for those struggling to understand what, and how, to respond to the behaviors that often accompany substance use and abuse.