Originally Posted by
biminiblue 
The reality is drugs and alcohol DO take away the pain of life. Until they become the pain itself. Part of treatment is learning how to deal with painful situations and emotions without the drug/drink. Addicts have to learn tools to cope - they've always used something outside themselves.
We cannot control what our loved one hears or says or to whom he speaks.
You would find Al Anon very helpful for yourself - learn about the problem and what you can do to make this easier for you.
biminiblue, I appreciate what you have said about the reality is that alcohol and drugs DO take away the painful areas in their life. At the family and patient meeting today, the teacher or therapist made many good points on how to deal with stress and the triggers that cause it. I was very impressed and I learned a lot and vowed to use those points myself. Thank you for sharing "the reality of it all".