If a man has an addiction and his family is tied by custom to caring for him – even as he steals, cheats, ruins family events, embarrasses other family members, destroys property, puts himself in danger, lands in jail now and then, etc – what is the individual’s motivation for changing their behavior? Are they really supposed to have the reciprocal feelings – to love their family enough to give up their addition, contrary to all modern behavioral thought?* Is this a singular exception that should be made to the cultural ideal? “Care for your family no matter what … unless you’re dealing with an addict.” (That sounds more culturally familiar, to me.) But if that exception were made, how would it change the homeless rate? How would it change the streets of Koror?
*Anyone who has seen more than 2 episodes of A&E “Intervention” knows that this is contrary to our Western approach to addiction.
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