This document discusses elements of family systems in the context of addiction. It describes how in families with addiction, normal communication patterns and boundaries become disrupted. Boundaries can become too rigid or permeable, and family subsystems like the parental and children subsystems become enmeshed and unclear. It also addresses how the emotional bonds and natural resistance to change in families can distort and cause dysfunction in families affected by addiction. Recovery aims to reestablish healthy communication, boundaries, and adaptability within the family system.