Thank you for bringing attention to the disease of addiction. This is an issue that affects me on a personal level, as I am a person in long-term recovery from this disease. What this means is, I have not had a mood- or mind-altering substance since Jan. 25, 2015.
My substance abuse did not just affect me; it affected my family as well, because addiction truly is a family disease. There may only be one person drinking or using drugs, but the entire family also suffers.
I now work at The Prevention Council of Saratoga County as a trained Family Support Navigator. I help families who have loved ones with addiction.
When I first meet a family, I will ask how I can help you. Nine times out of ten the immediate response is “I need to get my loved one into treatment.” Getting the loved one into treatment would be of great help, but this is not the ultimate solution to all of the family’s issues.
During our first meeting, I will discuss how it is a family disease and how they need to maintain their own level of health. I equate this to being on an airplane and preparing for an emergency landing. The family needs to put on oxygen masks first in order to best help a loved one.
I am able to connect them to resources, provide education on substance use disorder, and most importantly, offer hope and encouragement.
-Brendan Norton
Saratoga Springs
