Kudakwashe Musanhu
Correspondent
WHEN we talk about addiction, attention naturally goes to the person using substances.
We worry about their health, behaviour, relationships and future. We encourage them to seek counselling, enter rehabilitation and make changes that can support recovery. Yet there is another group whose struggles can easily go unnoticed: the family.
Living with a loved one who is struggling with addiction can be emotionally exhausting.
Families may spend months or even years trying to understand what is happening. They may deal with broken promises, unexplained absences, financial difficulties, conflict at home and changes in their loved one’s behaviour. Some constantly worry about what might happen next.
Over time, this can take a psychological toll.
Parents may question where they went wrong. Spouses can become overwhelmed by responsibilities that were previously shared. Siblings may feel angry, embarrassed or helpless. Children can also be affected when substance use contributes to instability and conflict within the home.
While every family’s experience is different, addiction rarely affects one person in isolation.
Unfortunately, families are sometimes expected simply to “be strong.”
Strength, however, should not mean suffering silently.
Family members need safe spaces where they can speak about their experiences without being judged. Counselling can help them process difficult emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and understand that supporting someone does not mean taking responsibility for every decision that person makes.
Psychoeducation is equally important. When families understand addiction and recovery, they may be better prepared to respond constructively. They can learn about triggers, relapse warning signs, healthy communication and the importance of boundaries. They can also begin recognising behaviours that may unintentionally protect a loved one from the consequences of harmful choices.
This distinction matters. There is a difference between supporting recovery and enabling harmful behaviour.
For example, helping someone attend counselling or encouraging healthy routines can support change. Constantly covering up problems caused by substance use, making excuses or repeatedly taking responsibility for consequences may have the opposite effect. Families often engage in these behaviours because they care deeply about the person. With appropriate guidance, that care can be expressed in healthier ways.
Support should also continue when a loved one enters rehabilitation.
Admission into a rehabilitation programme can bring enormous relief to a family. After a long period of uncertainty, there may finally be hope that things will improve. However, rehabilitation does not automatically erase the emotional impact of what happened before treatment.
Trust may need to be rebuilt. Relationships may have been damaged. Financial problems may remain. Some relatives may still carry anger or fear even while they are happy about the progress being made.
Recovery therefore involves more than stopping substance use. It can also involve repairing relationships and learning new ways of living together.
This is why family involvement in recovery is important. Family education sessions, counselling, support groups and preparation for reintegration can help relatives understand what recovery may look like after rehabilitation. They can also help families develop realistic expectations. Change takes time, and progress may not always follow a straight path.
Zimbabwean communities also have an important role to play.
Families affected by addiction sometimes experience stigma. Fear of gossip or judgement can discourage people from seeking help early. Some families hide the problem until it has become difficult to manage. Others move between different sources of assistance without knowing where professional psychological support can be found.
We need conversations that replace shame with understanding while still encouraging personal responsibility.
Churches, schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, rehabilitation centres and community organisations can contribute by providing accurate information and directing families towards appropriate services. Religious and community support can be valuable sources of hope and belonging, particularly when they work alongside professional care rather than discouraging it.
Most importantly, we must remember that family members are people with psychological needs of their own.
A mother who has spent years worrying about her child may need support. A spouse who has carried the household through repeated crises may need someone to listen. A sibling who feels angry and disappointed may need help making sense of those emotions. Supporting them is not taking attention away from the person struggling with addiction.
It strengthens the environment in which recovery must take place.
When one person begins the journey towards recovery, the whole family may have healing to do. Our response to addiction should therefore extend beyond asking, “How do we help this person stop using substances?”
We should also ask, “How is the family coping, and what support do they need?”
That question could make a meaningful difference to both individual recovery and the wellbeing of the family as a whole.
Families of drug addicts need support
