ABSTRACT
Relationship problems and addiction go hand in hand . Addictions are toxic for relationships and negative relationships make individuals vulnerable to stress and less functional coping styles and thus more likely to turn to addictive substances and behaviors . Distressed relationships are also predictive of a poor prognosis in alcohol and drug abuse programs (Fals-Stewart, Birchler, & O’Farrell, 1999, 2003) . Reviews of the best evidence-based treatment approaches to substance disorders indicate that most of them emphasize a focus on family or social networks as a key “active ingredient” of successful therapy (Miller & Wilbourne, 2002) .
