The Pressures of Privilege

Ep #14 - Why families hold the key to recovery | Kate Duffy

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What if everything you've been told about helping an addicted loved one is backwards?

Kate Duffy, interventionist and family addiction expert, challenges the conventional wisdom that families are powerless until their loved one "wants help." After her own recovery in 2013, Kate began doing emergency room interventions with overdose patients. When nearly every person asked her to "talk to my family," she realized something was missing from traditional recovery approaches.

Kate started a family support group, and after nine months, she looked around the room and realized something remarkable: every single family member's loved one was now in recovery. This led her to develop a revolutionary approach that puts families at the center of the solution rather than on the sidelines.

In this conversation, Kate explains:

  • Why she does an "intervention on the family first" before even talking to the addicted person
  • How addiction isn't actually the problem - it's the solution the person is using to cope
  • Why families unknowingly become part of the addiction cycle and how to break free
  • The difference between enabling and true support
  • How to stop waiting for rock bottom and become "the tipping point" in your loved one's willingness to recover

    • Kate shares her framework for helping families step out of chaos, reclaim their lives, and create the conditions where recovery can thrive. If you're exhausted from trying everything and feeling helpless, this episode offers a completely different path forward.

    Resources mentioned: Kate's book "Dear Family," the "Stop the Chaos" training program, and Tipping Point Recovery's family intervention services.

    Takeaways

    • Addiction is often seen as a family disease.
    • Families can play a crucial role in the recovery process.
    • Understanding the addict's perspective is essential for families.
    • Codependency can exacerbate addiction issues.
    • Guilt and shame are common feelings among family members of addicts.
    • Setting boundaries is vital for family members.
    • Education about addiction can empower families.
    • Recovery is a journey that involves both the addict and their family.
    • Creating a safe and supportive environment is key to recovery.
    • Families should seek help and resources to navigate addiction.
      • Links

      Book: Dear Family, Why Your Loved One Won't Accept Help and How to Help Them Anyway, On Amazon

      Website: Tipping Point Recovery

       

      Notable Quotes

      "There's never no hope for me."
      "You can't bullshit a bullshitter."
      "You have to start somewhere."

       

      Credits

      Thank The Team: To all those who help me. Gwendolyn Christian for the scheduling and Oliver Kiker for the theme music.

       

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      The Pressures of PrivilegeBy Diana Oehrli