Empowering families affected by substance use

Grief is a natural and normal response to loss. People with substance use problems, along with their family, may grieve the lost expectations and potential that result from serious addiction. The grieving process can be described as a series (or cycle) of five stages (Bartha et al., 2001; Kübler-Ross, 1969/1997). You may experience the following stages of grief as you deal with a family member.