If someone you love is struggling with drugs or alcohol, you are probably carrying more than anyone can see. You do not have to work this out alone. iRely Recovery helps families understand what is happening, decide what to do next and take care of themselves along the way.
Family Support for Addiction: Help for You and the Person You Love
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VFReviewed by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, Founder of iRely Recovery. Updated November 2026.
QUICK ANSWER
What does family support for addiction include?
Family support for addiction usually has three parts: learning how addiction affects the whole family, getting practical help to move a loved one toward treatment, and getting support for yourself through family therapy or groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon. Families who stay involved, without enabling, give their loved one a stronger foundation for long-term recovery.
Where Are You Right Now?
Every family arrives at a different point. Start with the one that sounds most like yours.
“They won’t admit there’s a problem.”
Learn what to say, what to avoid and how to keep the door open.
“We’ve tried talking. Nothing works.”
A professional interventionist can help your family plan the next step safely.
“Can we make them go to treatment?”
What California law allows, including 5150 holds, SB 43 and conservatorship.
“They’re starting treatment. Now what?”
How long rehab lasts, what happens each week and how families stay involved.
Guides for Families
The Family Guide to Addiction Recovery
Our in-depth guide: conversations, CRAFT, enabling vs supporting.
How iRely Recovery Supports Families
Family involvement is part of treatment at iRely Recovery, not an afterthought. Our 11-bed residential program in the San Fernando Valley is small by design, so families work with the same clinical team from the first call to discharge.
- Family therapy from the first week. Licensed therapists use structural, strategic and behavioral family therapy, chosen after an initial family assessment. Family Therapy for Addiction ›
- Guidance before admission. If your loved one is not ready yet, our team can talk you through CRAFT-informed next steps and when a professional interventionist makes sense.
- Privacy you can count on. Many of the families we work with are executives, professionals and public figures. Every conversation is confidential.
- Clear communication during treatment. With your loved one’s signed consent, the clinical team keeps you informed about progress and discharge planning.
- Insurance verification for families. We check insurance benefits before admission, including coverage through a family member’s plan. Insurance Options ›
Call 818-869-2112 to speak with our admissions team about your family’s situation.
FREE DOWNLOAD
The Family Readiness Checklist
A 7-page guide from our family team, reviewed by Vinsent Franke, CEO of iRely Recovery:
- Signs to watch for (alcohol, opioids and fentanyl, stimulants) and a 14-day log
- A conversation planner you fill in before you talk
- What to say, what to avoid, and 3 copy-paste text messages
- Your next move if they say yes, or if they say no
- What to have ready, what to pack, and a cut-out emergency card
Read it on your phone or computer, or print it.
Get the free Checklist
Free and confidential. We will email it right away. No calls unless you ask.
Why Family Matters to Our Founder
iRely Recovery was founded by Vinsent Franke, MBA, AMFT, CADC-II, RA, an associate marriage and family therapist and addiction counselor with more than two decades in recovery himself.
Vinsent knows this from the family side as well. He grew up in a large family where addiction touched nearly every sibling, and where recovery eventually spread through the family too. He has also lived every parent’s worst fear: he lost his son, Max, to an overdose. He has spoken openly about both on the Sober Strong, Hopeaholics and Illuminate Recovery podcasts. His family is also proof that recovery can travel through a family the same way addiction does.
As a father, Vinsent did everything he knew to help his son get well. Max went to treatment and was doing well, and he died of an overdose in the week he was due to graduate. Vinsent speaks about it openly because so many parents carry the same guilt.
That experience shapes how our team works with families today: no judgment, no blame, and a clear plan for what comes next.
“All my siblings at one point were afflicted by addiction and alcoholism. All but one are in long-term recovery now.”
Vinsent Franke
On the Sober Strong podcast
“I did the best with what I had and it wasn’t enough… I did not fail. Addiction won.”
Vinsent Franke
On the Sober Strong podcast
“Every person who walks through our doors is someone’s child, parent or friend.”
Vinsent Franke
Founder & CEO, iRely Recovery
What Families Say
“I am very grateful for people I’ve never met, as they took my own in; and loved, cared and supported him as one of theirs.”
Vivian H.
Family member of a client · Google review
“Visited a friend who’s been battling addiction. It was great to see him so well taken care of.”
Jon M.
Visited a friend at iRely Recovery · Google review
“Working with Vinsent was such an eye opening experience of hope.”
Rich C.
Referred a family friend · Google review
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google
Family Roles in Addiction
When one person develops an addiction, the rest of the family adapts, often without realizing it. Family therapists commonly describe five roles: the enabler, the hero, the scapegoat, the mascot and the lost child. These roles are survival strategies, not character flaws, and naming them is the first step to changing them.
Support Groups for Families of Addicts
You need support too, whether or not your loved one is ready for treatment. Free groups for families meet in person across Los Angeles and online, including Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Families Anonymous and SMART Recovery Family & Friends. If you are not sure which group fits, our team can help you choose.
Taking Care of Yourself: Codependency and Burnout
Living with someone’s addiction creates constant stress, and many family members lose track of their own needs. This pattern is often called codependency, and it can continue even after your loved one enters treatment. Getting your own support is not selfish: it helps you set boundaries and stay steady until they are ready for help.
If It’s an Emergency
If your loved one is unresponsive, having a seizure, struggling to breathe or may have overdosed, call 911 now. If they are talking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). iRely Recovery is not an emergency service.
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Licensed by the California DHCS (#191516AP)
INSURANCE WE WORK WITH
Frequently Asked Questions
What is family support for addiction?
Family support for addiction is help designed for the people around someone with a substance use disorder. It includes education about addiction, practical guidance on getting a loved one into treatment, family therapy and peer support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon.
Are there support groups for families of addicts in Los Angeles?
Yes. Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Families Anonymous and SMART Recovery Family & Friends all hold free meetings in Los Angeles and online. You can find meetings near you by ZIP code on each group’s website.
What are the family roles in addiction?
Family therapists often describe five roles: the enabler or caretaker, the hero, the scapegoat, the mascot and the lost child. Each is a way of coping with the stress of addiction, and family therapy helps family members move out of them.
Can I get help if my loved one refuses treatment?
Yes. You can get support for yourself through family therapy or a support group, and approaches such as CRAFT teach families how to encourage a loved one toward treatment without confrontation. Call 818-869-2112 to talk through your options.
Does iRely Recovery involve families in treatment?
Yes. Family therapy begins in the first week of treatment and is led by licensed therapists. With your loved one’s written consent, our team also keeps you updated on progress and discharge planning.
Is calling iRely Recovery confidential?
Yes. Every call is confidential, and there is no obligation. Our admissions team can answer questions, verify insurance and help you decide on next steps.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Whether your loved one is ready for treatment or not, our team can help you take the next step.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from. It matters where you’re going.”
— Vinsent Franke
17524 Napa St, Northridge, CA 91325 · Admissions available 24/7
