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Spero Health Clinical Insights
In the United States over 20 million Americans ages 12 and older have substance use disorder, and since the year 2000 over 700,000 Americans have died from drug overdose. In this Spero Health Clinical Insights series, we take a deeper dive in some of the most common and complex clinical issues facing providers on the front lines working to fight the drug epidemic. To learn more about clinically effective ways of assisting this patient population tune in now.
Spero Health Clinical Insights
Beyond the Individual: How Addiction Impacts the Entire Family
Welcome to Episode 23 of the Spero Health Clinical Insights Podcast! In this powerful episode, host David Hayden is joined by Rebecca Campbell, a Clinical Services Specialist at Spero Health. Rebecca is a Licensed Professional Counselor and brings a wealth of experience to the conversation as they explore how substance use disorders impact the family—and the family’s critical role in recovery.
Addiction doesn’t just affect the individual—it alters the entire family system. Rebecca breaks down how family members often take on unintentional roles to cope with a loved one’s substance use, sometimes enabling the very behavior they’re trying to protect against. From children struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges to spouses and parents battling guilt, shame, and grief, the ripple effects of addiction run deep.
This episode focuses on the path to reconnection and healing once a patient makes a personal commitment to recovery. Rebecca shares how motivational interviewing can help patients recognize their impact on family relationships, and how group counseling can provide connection and perspective. She also discusses when and how to involve family members in the recovery process, and why timing and readiness are essential.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into how to help patients take responsibility, rebuild trust, and truly listen to the perspectives of those they’ve hurt. Recovery is not just about sobriety—it’s about restoring relationships. This episode is a meaningful guide for clinicians, families, and anyone navigating the complex intersection of addiction and family dynamics.