CHAMPAIGN, Ill. People who have dealt with addiction, or the family disorder that often surrounds it, may find assistance in a workshop April 27 in Urbana.
Claudia Black, a well-known lecturer and author on addictive disorders and families, will lead the workshop, titled “Breaking the Cycle of Addiction.”
Black is the author of “It Will Never Happen to Me,” a book that sold 2 million copies and was written for people raised in addictive homes; “My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease,” a book for children from addictive families; and “Its Never Too Late to Have a Happy Childhood,” for adults trying to deal with painful experiences from childhood.
Black will talk about how shame is a central issue for those who grow up in an environment of addiction, and will suggest how those affected can get past it. She also will address the basics of family intervention, and foundation issues in family recovery, dealing with issues such as loyalty, betrayal, treatment expectations and powerlessness.
Black is the clinical consultant of addictive disorders for The Meadows, an addiction treatment center in Wickenburg, Ariz. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Newsweek and The New York Times, and on television programs such as “The Today Show” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
The daylong workshop, sponsored by the University of Illinois School of Social Work and its alumni association, will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1001 Killarney. Registration is open to the public at a cost of $115 prior to April 17. The fee will be $125 after that. Those interested should call the School of Social Work at (217) 333-2261.
