Denial~the groundwork of addiction

"The power and importance of denial cannot be overstated when it comes to addiction. Even when addicts are facing life on the streets or incarceration, they will deny that addiction is the root cause of their troubles. Their perception becomes so distorted by denial that they may be truly unable to comprehend the disaster that has befallen them. "

Addict in the family by Beverly  Conyers

Denial can run rampant in the family of the addict, the addict themselves denying they have a problem, denying any and all addictive behaviors (usually blaming others) and , in the beginning, parents denying that their child has a problem. It's a natural response to dealing with issues that we aren't yet ready to deal with. 

When my son was spiraling out of control this winter and experiencing all sorts of  bad consequences to his addiction, he would still look at me and deny he had a drug problem. When I would look in his face and see a stranger, pick him up briefly while on the street in -30 degree temperatures, he would deny that drugs had anything to do with it. He has always been in denial that he is responsible in any way for many consequences that he, or we, have suffered as a consequence to his addiction. I know that for him to heal, he will need to stop denying the problem here is his addiction.