Addict in the Family

Below is a passage from a great book. It's called Addict in the Family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery and was written by Beverly Conyers. You want to know what it's like to be the parent of an addict? This comes close to describing it:

"For almost every addict who is mired in this terrible disease, others--a mother or father, a child or spouse, an aunt or uncle or grandparent, a brother or sister--are suffering too. Families are the hidden victims of addiction, enduring enormous levels of stress and pain. They suffer sleepless nights, deep anxiety, and physical exhaustion brought on by worry and desperation. They lie awake for hours on end as fear for their loved one's safety crowds out any possibility of sleep. They live each day with a weight inside that drags them down. Unable to laugh or smile, they are sometimes filled with bottled-up anger or a constant sadness that keeps them on the verge of tears."

That's some pretty heavy stuff, but it's very accurate. You just learn to live with it all as best you can, because that's really your only alternative.