Addiction is devastating not only to the addict but to those around him or her. Families must understand that addiction is a disease; and most importantly, they must grasp that they didn’t cause it and that they are not responsible for it. Dan Simmons, an addiction and family counselor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, explains how families can learn to cope with the feelings of guilt, blame and denial they might experience when one of their members has an addiction. Dan shares practical tips and counseling options for families, who usually feel grateful, but terrified and desperate for help. He adds that family programs are as important as addiction treatments.