Enterhealth Hosts An Evening With Mariel Hemingway To Highlight The Impact Addiction Has On The Family

DALLAS, October 17, 2016 – To raise awareness about addiction and how it affects the entire family, Enterhealth – a science-based drug and alcohol addiction treatment company based in Dallas – recently hosted an intimate evening event with Mariel Hemingway, an Academy Award-nominated actress and the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. She and her famous family faced many struggles due to addiction, suicide and mental health issues, which she discusses in her newly published book “Out Came the Sun.” A fervent advocate for mental health, Hemingway spoke about overcoming the legacy of mental illness, addiction and suicide in the family during this special event.

(Featured photo: Mariel Hemingway and moderator Amy Jones. Photos by Rob Wythe/Gittings.)

“Mariel delivered a compelling and insightful commentary in which she discussed how living in an environment with addiction and mental illness affected her childhood and led her to start a personal journey of learning and healing,” said David Kniffen Jr., president and chief executive officer of Enterhealth. “We are grateful for her candid presentation and hope that it moves families to seek professional medical assistance in coping with a loved one’s addiction. Our hope is that Mariel’s presentation resonated with people who have family members who are suffering from addiction by letting them know they are not alone, and by providing tremendous insight.”

It is important to understand how addiction impacts the family and that the entire family needs treatment, not just the addict. Addiction alters the brain chemistry of the addict as well as the family members, leading to a host of conditions including depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, insomnia and substance abuse. Family involvement and treatment are critical components of long-term alcohol and drug addiction rehabilitation.

“Addiction significantly impacts and alters the dynamics within a family,” said Enterhealth Chief Medical Strategist Harold Urschel, M.D., M.M.A., author of the New York Times bestseller “Healing the Addicted Brain.” “When drug and alcohol addiction injures the brain, that person is struggling with a brain disease. As a result, the rest of the family has to adapt to the new chaotic and damaging lifestyle. This significant ongoing stress affects the brains of the family members as well and often causes family members to develop unhealthy coping skills to deal with the stress. These dysfunctional coping skills not only hurt the family members, but also give the alcoholic/addict a higher chance to continue the substance use. Consequently, the coping skills must all be unlearned if they are to begin healing and return to a normal life. What’s worse, these behavioral changes arise very slowly over the entire course of the addiction, so most family members often do not even recognize that there is a problem.”

Enterhealth advocates that when a patient undergoes treatment, their family needs to be a critical part of the treatment solution. As part of the addiction recovery process at both Enterhealth Ranch and Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence (located in the Park Cities), Enterhealth advocates for individualized family therapy sessions, assessments by a psychiatrist in some cases, as well as educational support for families in group settings. All of these important treatments teach both patients and family members the coping skills and stress management techniques necessary to rebuild relationships, thereby giving the patient as well as their family the highest possible chance for a high quality life of sobriety.

About Enterhealth:

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Enterhealth offers a science-based alcohol and drug addiction treatment program created by a dedicated team of addiction experts determined to dramatically improve treatment outcomes. Based on the latest National Institutes of Health research identifying addiction as a chronic brain disease, this program is implemented by a full-time staff of addiction-trained physicians, psychiatrists, nurses and therapists, beginning with a thorough medical and psychological assessment designed to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient. This approach has proven to be at least three times more effective than traditional programs.

Enterhealth Ranch, an exclusive treatment facility, is nestled on 43 scenic acres just 30 minutes north of Dallas/Fort Worth. The facility features 40 beds, private rooms and bathrooms, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping service, a luxurious pool, a gym and more. Enterhealth Outpatient Center of Excellence, an outpatient treatment facility, is located in the Park Cities, just north of downtown Dallas, and provides ongoing addiction management care and support. For more information, visit www.enterhealth.com.