Featured Term:  "Denial"
Not recognizing or refusing to admit the relationship between substance use and life problems (such as heath, relationships, or employment issues.) Denial occurs when facing a painful reality is too much for a person to bear. Accepting the truth would turn upside down the person's entire way of viewing themselves, the world and the future. A person is “in denial” when the facts of a situation are apparent but the person is unable to admit the truth to himself/herself. (Join Together)

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Note: Join Together definitions were adapted from:

Cermak, T. L. (1986). Diagnosing and Treating Codependence. Johnson Institute Books, Minneapolis, MN.
Maisto, S. A., Galizio, M. And Connors, G. J. (1991). Drug Use and Misuse, Hold, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., Fort Worth, TX.
Ray, O. (1990). Drugs, Society and Human Behavior, Times Mirror/Mosby, College Publishing, St. Louis.
Schuckit, M. A. (1998). Educating Yourself about Alcohol and Drugs: A People's Primer. Plenum Trade: New York.

Terms from Addiction Resource Guide