Substance abuse disorders can destroy families, but it doesn’t have to be that way. From providing psychoeducation to the family on what addiction is, what causes it and to exactly what is happening from a neurobiological standpoint, substance abuse counseling is the first step in helping the sufferer raise their awareness as to how their actions are affecting their friends and family and, ultimately, themselves. Like with other disorders which affect the family, counseling is aimed at the family unit and the family learns together about their loved one’s addiction and its root causes and what steps need to be taken to enter treatment/recovery.