COMING OFF DRUGS: HOW THE FAMILY REACTS-PARTNERS, WIVES AND HUSBANDS

If you are married to, or in a committed relationship with an addict or an alcoholic, you may be not just emotionally damaged but also damaged financially, and sometimes literally beaten. Battered wives and partners often come from alcoholic marriages.

Wives, in particular, tend to get emotionally distressed. They are often financially dependent on their husbands. They are struggling to bring up children in a home that is warped by alcohol or drugs. Quite often they do not realise how bad the situation has become.

Dominating alcoholics or addicts can often persuade partners either that it is all their fault or that they are the ones who are mad. Partners even get blamed for the children's normal

growing-up pains. Things go from bad to worse in the home, without the partner realising the full seriousness of the illness.

It is vital to start getting help from Al-anon or Families Anonymous before the position gets too bad. Only in that way can you help yourself, your children and (whatever they may say about it) your partner.

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Anti-Smoking