Mark Kerrigan, brother of American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, has been accused of killing his father in an alcohol-induced rage. Kerrigan’s problems with addiction have been ongoing for years, and his parents even sued him for more than $100,000, reportedly to push him toward seeking treatment. John Quinones and Christine Brozyna of ABC.com explore this…
There are more than 23 million Americans struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, and millions more with compulsive behaviors such as gambling, gaming and sex addiction. Struggling along with them are the millions of people who love them. Partners, parents, children, close relatives and friends deal every day with the same problem as the addict,…
When you are concerned that a loved one is struggling with depression, it is natural to want to help. When the sufferer is your husband, it can be more difficult. Depression can put a strain on your marriage. You likely have seen firsthand your husband’s recent irritability, difficulty sleeping and a gradual withdrawal from people…
Children of alcoholic parents live in a unique world. While most children enjoy comfortable routines, playtime, reliable meals and bonding time with their caregivers, children of alcoholic parents don’t have the same luxuries. A Harder Lot in Life According to research comparing children of alcoholics to children of non-alcoholics, children of alcoholic parents are at…
When you love an alcoholic or addict, you probably experience a lot of unpredictability and pain in your life, including both extreme highs and extreme lows. You get caught up in frequent drama and are obsessed with trying to change situations you can’t control and you may spend time, money and energy trying to fix…
If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you know how challenging it is to talk to that person. When you try to confront him about his problem you may encounter any number of deflecting techniques: avoidance, anger, guilt, aggression or anything else that prevents you from having a serious…
In families with a significant track record of substance addiction, parents face additional challenges when it comes to educating their children about drugs and alcohol. But by warning young people about their family history of addiction, is it possible to actually increase their risk of substance abuse? Many studies over the years have confirmed that…
If there is one thing that is more challenging than having the disease of addiction, it is watching a family member struggle with it. Whether it is your spouse, your child, a sibling or a parent who is an addict, the situation can make you feel utterly lost and helpless. There may be times when…
There are no perfect parents. Even conscientious parents who seek to create the best possible home environment will make mistakes along the way and those mistakes will impact their children, just as they were influenced by their own parents. Does this mean that kids who grow up in a home where one or both parents…
The decision of if, when, and how you should tell someone else about your addiction is a personal matter – and it’s not one to be taken lightly. Naturally, you wouldn’t dream of just blabbing to the stranger in the coffee shop that you once were a heroin or meth addict, or that you had…
