by M.L Clark

Created on: June 19, 2008

Enabling any addict can be detrimental to their recovery process. Addicts go through stages of thoughts about whether or not they should quit using. Usually, especially in the beginning, the answer always leads back to continuing the use because it "feels better" or is easier than stopping. The problem of enabling, I believe, is the fact that in the drug addiction field, addiction is known as a disease. I feel that this is entirely the wrong word to describe an addiction. The definition of disease is as follows:

-a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developemental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

Addiction is certainly not a genetic disease or environmental factor/poison that cannot be avoided and people are not "born with it." Sure, some are predisposed to a drug or alcohol addiction, but some of those same people also choose NOT to use drugs or alcohol. My point is, the addict needs to take responsibilty for the fact that no one forced him/her to use drugs or alcohol. It was a conscious choice and with that, comes the consequences. Once an addict has begun using, however, it is very difficult to stop because it is a mental/emotional problem as well as a physical one.

When family and friends get too wrapped up in trying to help the addict, without fully understanding what addiction is, they may begin enabling instead. Family members may bail the addict out of jail or hide them from the police, put them up in hotels or let them stay in their home, give them money, sometimes even go as far as giving a urine sample to the addict so that they won't have a positive urine screen for probation. The family may even make up excuses for their own enabling behaviors by saying something like "I'm just going to help this one time." The family often doesn't realize that by "helping" the addict, they are actually hurting them. The addict continues to use because they have not had a chance to really feel the negative consequences of their actions. The family keeps cushioning the addict from every fall, thereby giving the addict the means to continue using. At this point, the addict is still comfortable using because no one has allowed them to hit the "rock bottom" that they need to ultimately make the decision to seek treatment. Most importantly the family needs to set boundaries and

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