need help - preparing to tell our close friends about taking our son to rehab for opiate addiction

[libodem]

2. I would say, remember you are telling your son's story

And think of it like a medical record because he is sick. He has a right to all the privacy you can afford him. There is a lot of guilt and shame surrounding substance abuse.

We used to answer the phones at the treatment center: I can not confirm or deny the presence or non presence of the person you are requesting but if you leave your name and number, if they should be here they can decide to contact you.

All these things are anonymous for a reason. Protect his privacy until he starts his recovery a little. I find alcoholics and addicts to be extremely sensitive to exposure until they start to get well. Then the honesty is so refreshingly blunt it can be surprising.

It's a family disease. Love to you.