This document outlines a program called Family Circle that aims to help families support their loved one's recovery after treatment for addiction. It argues that treatment alone is usually not enough, as relapse rates are high. The key is getting the whole family involved in recovery through attending Al-Anon meetings together, having weekly family recovery meetings over the phone, and modeling recovery behaviors at home. The document cites research showing much lower relapse rates (7% vs 80-90%) for those who have a structured long-term recovery plan like pilots, doctors and lawyers must follow. It invites families to commit to the 90-day Family Circle program to give their loved one the best chance of long-term sobriety.

1. FAMILY CIRCLE
…for when your loved one is finished with
Treatment

2. WHY IS IT THAT…
Our clients go to 5, 10, 15 treatment centers and still drink
or use?
After treatment almost nobody lasts very long without a
relapse?

3. TREATMENT VS RECOVERY
Treatment is when they are in a facility.
Recovery is what they do for themselves when they
leave …meetings, get a sponsor, work the steps,
etc.

4. IF YOUR FAMILY WANTS TO COMMIT…
We can show you how this will be the LAST
treatment center your addict/ alcoholic ever attends

5. 1. Go to Sober Living for 90
days: We want a structured
place to live where they
can get jobs, education, etc
2. We want to get you, the
family involved in Recovery
and we are going to guide
you through this
After Treatment:

6. GOOD NEWS!!!!

7. There is a group of people who
almost never relapse in the years
following treatment. Total relapse
rate is 7 percent after 5 years vs 80 -
90 percent of everyone else.

8. Normal relapse rate: 80 - 90 percent
This group’s rate: 7 percent
…and that’s measured after 5 years
These folks are some of the most
difficult addicts to treat. They used to
relapse at the same rate as everyone
else.

9. We are going to show
you how with you, the
family, we can head
toward similar results.
You will do what that
winning group does.

10. WHAT’S A FAMILY TO DO?
We have found that the Family is clueless as to what works and
what doesn't after treatment.
We can fix that, but first let’s look at the Family.

11. Addiction turns the
family into the adversary.
Families think they have
no power because they
have just been
mistreated, and hated by
the addict.

12. But the addict/ alcoholic desperately needs
the family for recovery after treatment…
I am saying that your loved one can ONLY be
sober with your help.

13. TREATMENT IS…
RECOVERY IS…
Treatment is detox and 60 days in a treatment center
Recovery starts after Treatment… going to meetings,
getting a sponsor, working the steps, etc

14. If you are willing, we are going to
place your family smack-dab in the
center of Recovery
I’m going to show you how Family Circle
changes your family from chaos to healing

15. 12 STEP GROUPS
There is a group called Al-Anon which is for families.
When the founders started Alcoholics Anonymous, the families
were left behind with no support, so Al-Anon was started for
families

16. I WANT THE FAMILY TO
CHANGE… TO BE IN
RECOVERY
Alcoholics and addicts don’t
respond well to more words,
but actions attract their
attention.
When the entire family is
practicing Recovery—not
telling the addict what to do
but doing recovery
themselves—they will see
that something has changed

17. With everyone in recovery, the family
…which now includes the addict begins to
feel safe
Two Hours Per Week…
1. Dedicate one hour a week for a
group (a meeting over the phone
with your family) about Recovery.
2.Dedicate one hour a week to an
Al-Anon meeting.
Family meetings (#1) happen via
conference calls. If the addict is in
residential treatment or a sober
house, he can still participate.

18. THIS IS WHY IT WORKS…
When the addict finds himself
part of a recovery family, he no
longer feels like the odd man out.
When the entire family is working
at recovery, attending Twelve
Step groups, discussing what
they’ve learned and how they’re
improving, Recovery becomes
the family norm. The addict feels
the warmth of belonging,
something he has not felt in a
very long time.

19. The family starts by attending Al-Anon and they start soon
after the alcoholic /addict enters treatment
In a few weeks, the addict joins in the group and is right at
home.
Family Circle isn’t punitive or judgmental. The family focuses
on themselves, NOT on the addict/ alcoholic.
Everyone in the family finds where they have power and
where they are powerless.

20. “In the past ten years, my
mother relapsed multiple
times. As a family, we all
stood outside the circle,
passing judgment and
pointing fingers. Now we’re
all inside the circle, holding
hands, doing recovery
together.”
FROM THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED
THIS…

21. BACK TO THE WINNERS
GROUP I BROUGHT UP
EARLIER
If you are a pilot, lawyer or doctor and you want to keep
your license, you must agree to a five year monitored plan
of recovery
This is the only group in the world that has over a 90%
chance of staying sober
We know what they do… so we will simply duplicate what
they do… and we do it for one year

22. WHY PILOTS, DOCTORS
AND ATTORNEYS SUCCEED
1. Treatment
2. After treatment, sober living
3. Assignment to a solid support group which understands
recovery
4. Heavy involvement in AA or NA
5. Testing
6. Monitoring

23. GETTING STARTED
Each family member has to commit to one hour each week
on the phone for the Family Circle meeting plus one hour
for an Al-Anon meeting

24. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
We will set you up for your
meetings, hand you a different
subject for each meeting
We are available to guide you
through the process and for
consultation for anything at all
There is no charge for any of
this but there is an obligation…
that you commit for 90 days as
a trial

25. HOW TO GET STARTED
Fill out a simple information sheet so we get to know who
will be in your Circle
Sign the contract that you will continue no matter what for
90 days