Recovery-ready Families

Substance use disorder (SUD) is often called a family disease because it reaches far beyond the individual. It affects daily life, emotional health, roles and relationships. Families absorb the uncertainty, carry the fear and often feel powerless to stop what is unfolding. At the same time, families hold incredible potential for support, stability and change. That is why they are essential in prevention, in treatment and recovery, and in the long process of rebuilding. When families are informed, prepared and supported, they become a powerful force to change the course of addiction. 

This guide is not a prescription. It is a set of compassionate, adaptable principles designed to offer support and inspiration. Not every principle can be applied perfectly, and every family’s situation is different. Whether your loved one is living at home, staying elsewhere or disconnected entirely, this guide respects the difficulty of these journeys and the fact that no two paths are alike.  

By adapting well-known principles from the Recovery-ready Workplace and Recovery-ready Communities frameworks, families can build a relational readiness that helps minimize harm and increase connection.