To Family and Friends

Crystal Meth Anonymous is a program of recovery from crystal meth addiction offing the support of one addict helping another. We cannot offer counseling or suggestions on the situations of family members and loved ones of addicts.

Recognizing that there are limited sources of support for families we offer the resources below for informational purposes. The resources below do not constitute an endorsement of, nor an affiliation with the institutions, programs or resources mentioned.

If you have an addict in your life we recommend compassionately confronting their use and setting boundaries around their using behavior. (i.e. I find your drug use unacceptable - and I won't allow you around the kids when you are using" etc.)

It may help to remember that addicts are suffering from a progressive and potentially fatal disease. Modern medical thinking is that addiction is not a weakness, a lack of willpower or a moral failing. Addicts are sick people who can be effectively encouraged to get well, not bad people who need to be "good."

Sadly, most addicts do not recover until they become willing to seek help; our experience has shown it is nearly impossible to "make someone recover."

Addiction is a progressive disease that affect the entire family structure. Modern recovery approaches deal with the family and friends as well as the addict. It is important to NOT shield the addict from the consequences of their using behavior. (Referred to as "enabling.") Not enabling the addict may help them become willing to seek help.

If you are coping with the pain of having an addict / alcoholic in your life we strongly recommend a program like ALANON, Naranon or CODA you, both as a support mechanism and because they can offer strategies for coping with a loved one's addiction. AA Central Services should be able to help you locate these programs in your area, or call a local hospital's CDRU (Chemical Dependency Recovery Unit) and ask for referrals.

Alanon can be reached via their website at: al-anon.alateen.org Alanon is focused on the families and friends of Alcoholics, but their materials will be helpful to the loved ones of addicts as well. They are a much larger organization than Naranon, and therefore easier to find in many localities. Atlanta Al-anon can be reached here.

Naranon - and organization for the families and friends of drug addicts, can be reached at (310) 547-5800, or write to: Naranon World Service P.O. Box 2562 Palos Verdes, CA 09274. Georgia Naranon District can be reached here.

Codependents.org - Co-Dependents Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and fulfilling relationships.

While we do not endorse individual recovery related businesses or treatment centers, Hazelden Publishing Company has an informative listing of articles for family members of addicts.

"What can I say to Get you to Stop?" - a pamphlet for the friends and loved ones of addict / alcoholics.

Sober 24 offer support to families and loved ones of addicts and alcoholics. (Family & Friends of the afflicted meet in their SoberChat room on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10pm EST.)

Online Message Board for families / friends of meth addicts.