CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
GATEWAY SCHOOL
MRS. WORTHY
C
Conversation
Answer and ask questions
H
Help
Raise you hand…I have
a question.
A
Complete Assignment
M
Stay seated
P
Follow directions, look
up, write, pay attention
Activity
Movement
Participation
 RESORTING
TO UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS TO
GET NEEDS MET
 AVOIDANCE
OF SOCIAL GATHERINGS
 CHILDREN TAKING ON ADULT ROLES
 FIGHTS
 Read
scenario on page 22
 Questions:
 Who is the Chief enabler or co-Dependent?
Why?
 Who is the Lost Child? Why?
 Who is the Hero? Why?
 Who is the Scapegoat? Why?
 Who is the Mascot? Why?
 Who has the drug problem? Why?
 **people my take on many roles within the
family***
 In
a chemically dependent family, why or
how do…
 Family secrets begin to develop?
lack of trust, violence, abuse, etc
 Family members begin to feel ashamed and
isolated

Feel embarrassed about a problem, don’t talk to
anyone about it, feel alone, etc.
 Children
in the family experience rolereversal with their parents?

Kids taking care of parent and or other siblings
Emotional needs go unmet?
No nurturing, care, attention, listening,
acknowledgement
Family members become more tense, angry and
frustrated?
too much conflict, lack of communication
Family members deny that there is a problem?
Dad’s just tired or stressed. We are OK, No big
deal
 Refusing
to confront the addict
 Refusing to get outside help
 Refusing to acknowledge his/her need to
change behavior patterns
 Helping the addict to avoid dealing with
consequences (making things easier)
 Ignoring his/her use
 Giving him/her money
 Making excuses for him/her
 You
are extremely high and drunk. You ask
me to call your girlfriend and make up a lie
about where you are? Am I enabling you?
How?
 Your
best friend is constantly smoking weed
and skipping school. You never say anything
because you are afraid he/she will get mad
at you. Are you enabling him/her? How?
 Your
mom buys your cigarettes for you when
she does the regular grocery shopping. Is she
an enabler? How?
 Without
mentioning any names, raise your
hand if you know anyone who is currently
chemically dependent?
 What is an example of how you enable this
person?
 Did you know that person when he/she was
in early stages of dependency? How was
he/she different than he/she is now?
 Do you know anyone who is in recovery?
What is life like for that person? How does
this affect his/her family and friends?
 Why
do you think people never think of
future consequences of their actions until
after they already suffered a lot of
consequences?

No one ever thinks it will happen to him/her.
People are in denial and refuse to face the
problem and deal with them
 Sometimes
family problems decrease when
the user stops using. In other words, it’s not
just that the family enables use, but also the
user disables the family.
 P.
22 in student workbook- make a referral
for the family members in the scenario. Use
page 23-24 in workbook
 In the scenario we read, how was the dad’s
drinking affecting his family?

Ray was modeling Dad’s behavior, Mom was
walking on egg shells, and Heidi was modeling
Dad’s avoidance of the family
 Substance
abuse affects the whole family
and all of our relationships. The only solution
is the get the help you need. Even is no one
else in the family sees that there is a
problem, you can get help you yourself. Not
only will you feel better, but you will also
learn how to quit playing the role that
enables the dysfunction to continue.