Interview with Jeff Jones, All About Family

Interview with Jeff Jones, All About Family

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? In this conversation on The Addiction Podcast – Point of No Return, Jeff Jones, MA, LPC, CRNC, talks about why families often hold more influence than they realise in a loved one's recovery. Jeff grew up in a family shaped by addiction and later became a therapist focused on couples and families.

That mix of history and training led him to a simple but powerful question: "How do families become part of the solution?" From there, he’s spent years working with individuals and families, and developing what he calls a "new family recovery solution". A big feature of the episode is the role of nutrition. Jeff explains that many people in addiction are physically depleted and that targeted nutrition can make a real difference.

He mentions training with the Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition and describes supporting a young woman through heroin detox with amino acids, while stressing it’s not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all answer. The talk also looks at the long history of mixed messages about addiction – from ancient public shaming to today’s disagreements over whether it’s a brain disease, a moral failing, or something else.

Jeff suggests shifting from "cause and effect" thinking to looking at many contributing factors instead. For families, his message is practical and hopeful. He encourages relatives to start by calming their own nervous systems, setting healthier boundaries, and widening their focus beyond just the person in active addiction.

As he puts it, "when we can step back and rethink our situation, there is so much hope." If you’ve ever wondered what you can realistically change when someone you love is using, this conversation offers down-to-earth ideas that families can put into action straight away. What small shift could you make today to bring a bit more calm and hope into your home?