There may be no stronger bond than the one that exists between family members. There are many things that this bond is resilient against, but crack addiction is rarely one of them. Addiction can rip a family apart. However, destruction need not be a family’s fate. There are many effective solutions for group recovery from a family member’s crack addiction.
Better Understanding Crack Addiction
Many people may have heard of crack but are unfamiliar with how prevalent the use of this substance actually is. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and the most recent US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, ‘[M]ore than 8.5 million people have used crack at least once in their lifetimes … In 2006, nearly a quarter million people in the US between 12-49 years of age reported using crack for the first time. Importantly, some research suggests that household survey data may underestimate the prevalence of crack use in the US, particularly among African Americans living in segregated neighborhoods.”
Crack addiction is a deadly chronic disease. Some people get confused and even stigmatize crack addiction as some type of moral failing. This is even more common because of the way crack use is portrayed in popular culture. Addiction is a disease that is more similar to other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. It also has similar signs and symptoms to other diseases.
The Signs and Symptoms of Crack Addiction
Crack addiction has many unique signs and symptoms. The following are just a few:
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness (depression)
- Not being able to stop using it after starting
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing trouble at work or school
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Causing harm to oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
As you can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is vital. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It could also help to save a family and its members from falling victim to crack addiction.
A Family Disease: How Does a Crack Addiction Affect the Entire Family?
Crack addiction is a family disease. This is because the family is such a close unit that one person’s use is bound to affect everyone else in some way.
According to the peer-reviewed journal, Social Work in Public Health, “The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore, the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances, including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her.” The good news is that there are many solutions for family recovery. This includes experiential therapies.
Recovering From a Crack Addiction With Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy can be ideal for family recovery from a loved one’s crack addiction. This is because experiential methods can get the whole family out to participate in healthy activities. This is especially true with nature-based experiential therapies.
Nature immersion therapy offers a myriad of benefits for crack addiction. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning … While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship, also known as connectedness to nature (CN).”
For family recovery, this “connectedness to nature” can equate to connectedness to family. Of course, nature immersion therapy is not often wholly effective on its own. Many other modalities can be helpful as well. This includes family psychotherapy, yoga therapy, and group meditation. The key is to work together as a family and be honest during the journey.
Our Cherished Responsibility at Lantana Recovery
In 12-Step recovery, there is something called the “responsibility statement.” It reads, “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of [recovery] always to be there. And for that, I am responsible.”
At Lantana Recovery, we take this responsibility seriously. This is the same responsibility we promote when it comes to family healing.
Recovery is out there. The key is to go out and get it!
Crack cocaine addiction remains a serious problem in the U.S., and it does not just affect the individual. It affects the entire family. It is important to understand that addiction is a family disease and that it requires a family solution. The good news is there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for long-term recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental health issues, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about addiction and how it affects the entire family, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
