Today, compared to the time of the writing of the first edition of It Will Never Happen To Me, we seldom refer to someone as alcoholic, and recognize that if people are addicted they are often addicted to more than one substance. We use phrases like chemically dependent or addict to recognize that irrespective of one’s predominant substance addiction, they need to refrain from the use of alcohol and other drugs. This has occurred for two reasons. The first being it was recognized that many alcoholics were actively addicted to at least one other substance. Secondly, that even if they did not show signs of a second addiction, they needed to refrain from the use of other substances because those other substances would often lead them to relapse in their alcoholism or to engage in a second addiction. For these reasons, the words alcoholic, addict and chemically dependent will be used interchangeably throughout this book.
It will never happen to me is spoken by all who have been raised in a family where one or both parents have a problem with addiction. In addictive families most children move through adolescence appearing to survive the problems and hardships of life. They abide by the laws Don’t Talk, Don’t Trust, Don’t Feel. The survival techniques practiced as children contribute to a variety of problems in adulthood among them depression, inability to maintain intimate relationships, marrying an addict, or becoming addicted.
Keeping the heart and soul of the original It Will Never Happen to Me, this revised and updated version moves the reader from alcoholism to addiction and addictive disorders, and expands upon: Family rules Don’t Talk, Don’t Trust, Don’t Feel; Family roles Responsible Child, Placater, Adjuster, Acting Out Child;Family violence;Shame.
While continuing to recognize alcohol as the primary addiction within families, this edition broadens the concepts to include addictive disorders such as other drugs, money related addictions, food disorders, relationship, sex and work addictions.
