Looking for help to understand and deal with people in my family that have addiction to drugs and alcohol.
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Addiction has no rules.
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I have this same problem. All of my family has a drinking problem. I’m the first to try and change. You think they would support you. Nope. So I have told myself I am just not going to hang around them till I am strong enough to say no.
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Really nothing you can do to force others to get sober. Only lead by example.
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Hey AJ! The first thing that comes to mind when I read your post is the acceptance prayer. We can only change ourselves. Trying to change others only Leeds to frustration, anger, and resentments. The best thing you can do is be a living example in f the solution. I’m time we can only pray that they are attracted to the solution you have found. Take care of AJ first 
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My ex's have hard drug problems and her friends. All at the same time everything went crazy, drug addiction and acholoics all in the family. I was a occasionally 420 smoker then I had to stop because everybody was on Crystal meth, opioids, heroin and big time drinkers. Everybody has continued to drink, smoke, etc and those people got fired from work, arrested and keep going. Started bullying me to the point of murder. ...I'm free of all that but I'm reminded every day that those people are still out there and working and running people lives where I live
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Not sure how this app works. .. maybe you can read what I commented on with Bradford. People have become obsessed with addiction and it's not just drugs. .. my family is bad alcoholics and constant opioid, drug users. I'm not with any of them... I support them all sober.
Well, you have to somehow cut them loose and start being selfish. Recovery is a selfish program. I suggest you find a different orbit to associate with. If you move on for yourself a new life awaits. Sounds pretty brutal what you’re going through. Addicts surround themselves with like minded folk so they can continue that lifestyle. Find a new and better lifestyle, for yourself. You be the example to show the way,
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Probably true. I do lead and deal with my own problems but it has gotten to the point that those addicts have all made me their own problem and to be around anybody these days means you have to be dirty just to have a conversation or to get a job.
You'll have change people places and things if your trying to stay sober. Addiction is a cunning and baffling disease. It stripped me of pretty much everything
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yes, that's what exactly what I fear when it's starts of living of beans and cheese. or ramen and then have an addiction. I'm definitely trying to get further away and trying to get perspective that addicts gravitate to me abd pop up everywhere. That like mindedness is brutal.
Also read or listen to The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx. The album was intended to be a soundtrack for the book.
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It’s hard. You can’t force anyone into sobriety. Nobody could stop me, I thought I was fine and in control.
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Al anon is a program designed for people like you who do not necessarily have their own addictions to confront, but addiction has nonetheless negatively impacted their lives.
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Exactly what is it your trying to understand. Why they’re addicts? It very difficult question. If your asking why they do it? Don’t break your head trying to figure them out every one has a different story and a reason no two people are the same.You need to ask them your self.
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Hi AJ, the best thing I can think of is to try being patient with yourself and to be mindful of your thoughts when around your loved ones. This approach has helped me through a very similar scenario; allowing me to keep anxiety in check, maintain focus while finding anything positive in their company for what it is. Sobriety is an individual decision made on an individual's terms. The more happy and positive you seem the more curious they may become about your approach to life.
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Living with people in active addiction is hard. They are unaccepting of help because they don't yet see themselves as having a problem. You can only help someone who wants to be helped. For me, I have found that I have to practice a lot of compassionate disconnection. I can still care and love those still in active addiction but I cannot invest myself in them because it only ends up hurting me. It's not easy and I screw it up all the time but I keep trying to but a barrier between me and the active addict. Love them, just don't buy a ticket to their circus.
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