When someone struggles with addiction, the impact often extends far beyond the individual. Family dynamics, friendships, and other close relationships can significantly shift—sometimes in subtle and complex ways. One familiar yet misunderstood role within these dynamics is that of the enabler. But what is an enabler, and what are common enabling behaviors?
If you or a loved one is navigating challenges with substance abuse and you’re ready to take that next step toward healing, our family therapy program at ALANA Recovery in Georgia supports you in learning about unhelpful behaviors, rebuilding trust, tackling enabling tones, and restoring meaningful connections. Contact our team today to begin this vital work together.
What To Know About Family Relationship Issues
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are known to ripple outward, affecting family systems profoundly. It’s not uncommon for families of those struggling with addiction to fall into patterns that unintentionally perpetuate the problem. According to a 2023 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 17 million Americans aged 12 or older are struggling with substance use disorders, and loved ones frequently facilitate the process of seeking or avoiding help in response.1
For loved ones, the line between supporting someone and enabling unhealthy behaviors can blur. Understanding these distinctions can improve communication, strengthen relationships, and foster recovery.
What Is an Enabler?
Enabling includes actions—or inactions—that shield someone from the consequences of their addictions. While often rooted in kindness or fear of confrontation, such behaviors can delay important decisions, like seeking treatment for substance use.
An enabler is a person who, usually unintentionally, supports or facilitates another individual’s harmful behavior. Enablers typically mean well—they may not even realize they’re enabling someone else. Driven by care or anxiety, they believe they’re helping by protecting or compensating for their loved one’s struggles. However, enabling someone can prevent them from recognizing the full impact of their substance use, which is often essential to their decision to seek treatment. By removing consequences, enablers can unintentionally perpetuate unhealthy cycles.
What Are the Types of Enabling Behaviors?
Enabling behaviors can take many forms. While they may seem minor or harmless in isolation, their cumulative effect can hinder a loved one’s growth and recovery. Below are four common types:
- Financial support – Providing money to someone who might use it for alcohol or drugs, or covering expenses like rent, utilities, or fines caused by substance use, can enable harmful behaviors.
- Excusing or minimizing – Downplaying the addiction by saying things like “They just had a tough week” or lying to shield them from embarrassment in social, professional, or family situations.
- Shielding from consequences – Covering for them by calling in sick to work or managing legal and financial issues caused by their behavior.
- Taking over responsibilities – Overcompensating by managing household duties, childcare, or other obligations when the person struggling with addiction cannot.
Identifying these behaviors in your actions or those of others close to someone battling addiction is the first step in making meaningful changes. Addressing enabling behaviors can create space for lasting growth and open the door to professional help like treatment or therapy.
Do Enablers Contribute to the Development of Addiction and Co-Occurring Conditions?
While enablers don’t cause addiction, they can contribute to its persistence. Enabling behaviors often provide a buffer that protects individuals from feeling the full consequences of their actions. Without these consequences, an individual may find it harder to recognize the need for change.
Additionally, enablers may inadvertently support co-occurring conditions. For example, by excusing destructive behavior linked to mental health struggles, they may delay professional intervention for disorders like anxiety or depression. The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals a critical connection—35% of adults in the U.S. aged 18 and over who experience a mental health condition also face challenges with substance abuse, further emphasizing the need for dual diagnosis treatment.2
How Family Therapy Can Help
Recognizing and addressing enabling behaviors is essential in creating a pathway toward recovery. However, this task isn’t one you need to face alone. Family therapy offers a safe and guided space to explore these dynamics and learn healthier ways to interact.
Here are some ways our family therapy program at ALANA Recovery can help:
- Identify enabling patterns – Therapists can help families distinguish between supportive behaviors and enabling behaviors.
- Rebuild trust – Therapy sessions provide a space to express feelings and begin the process of rebuilding broken trust.
- Learn healthy communication skills – Discussions foster improved communication, allowing everyone to better understand and support one another.
- Address co-dependency – Therapy can help both individuals struggling with addiction and their families break cycles of co-dependency.
Involving family in treatment significantly improves the likelihood of recovery and reduces relapse rates.3 By joining together as a family unit, you create a stronger foundation for long-term healing.
Rebuild Connections and End Enabling Patterns with ALANA Recovery
At ALANA Recovery, we understand the complexities of addiction and the role family dynamics play. Working with our compassionate, expert team in group and family therapy programs will teach you practical tools to strengthen your relationships while supporting your loved one’s recovery.
Take that first step today. Contact ALANA Recovery online or call 770.759.7474 today to begin healing for you and your loved ones. Together, we can build a brighter and healthier future.
Footnotes:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – 2023 NSDUH Detailed Tables
- Family Process – Effects of family therapy for substance abuse: A systematic review of recent research