Family Sobriety Now
Because Sobriety Is A Family Affair
Family Sobriety Now is the podcast for families navigating the heartbreak, confusion, and uncertainty of a loved one’s addiction. Addiction impacts households of all professions, income levels, races, religions, and backgrounds. That includes our first-responder and public safety families who face tragedy and high-stress on every shift.
Hosted by Joseph Devlin—a counselor, former treatment center director, author, and person in long-term recovery—Family Sobriety Now provides practical guidance, compassionate support, and real-world strategies to help families respond with confidence instead of fear.
Through three distinct types of episodes, you’ll gain the knowledge, perspective, and encouragement you need along the journey:
A Step Out of Darkness takes a deeper dive into the principles from Joseph’s book, A Step Out of Darkness: How to Help Someone Enter Addiction Treatment and Walk with Them Through Recovery. These episodes provide a step-by-step roadmap for helping a loved one enter treatment while supporting your entire family through the recovery process.
Joe’s Insights features practical, bite-sized guidance from Joseph, drawing on decades of professional experience helping individuals and families navigate addiction, treatment, recovery, and healthy boundaries.
Family Voices shares honest conversations with families who have experienced the challenges of addiction firsthand. Their stories offer hope, understanding, and the reminder that you are never alone.
Whether you’re trying to recognize the warning signs of addiction, encourage someone to seek help, understand the recovery process, or simply find hope in the middle of uncertainty, Family Sobriety Now offers trusted guidance from professionals, lived experience from families, and practical tools you can begin using today.
Addiction impacts the entire family—but so does recovery.
Together, we’ll replace fear with understanding, chaos with stability, and uncertainty with a path forward.
New Episodes Weekly
Meet The Host
Joseph Devlin: Drug & Alcohol Counselor, MA, MAC, CAADC
Host
Joseph Devlin is an IIRP instructor, adjunct professor at Bucks County Community College, and founder of Family Sobriety Now. He has more than 20 years of experience in the specialty of addiction treatment. His passion lies in helping individuals reach sobriety and to live fulfilling lives by connecting people with the resources they need to achieve freedom from addiction. He is an accomplished author with broad expertise in using restorative practices to repair the harm in families caused by issues around addiction.
Joseph earned a Bachelor in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Science in Restorative Practices and Youth Counseling from the IIRP. He holds a certification in Family Group Decision Making and Family Group Conferencing.
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Building on Rock: Family Support During Treatment
September 07, 2026
Episode 009 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Joseph Devlin shares a vital reminder for families supporting a loved one in recovery: you can’t offer steady support unless you’re standing on solid ground yourself.
Whether support comes through Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, faith communities, community centers, fitness groups, book clubs, or trusted friends, the message is clear: community matters.
Recovery affects the entire family — not just the person in treatment. When families care for themselves intentionally and build strong support networks, they become a steadier source of love, clarity, and strength.
If your family is walking through the challenges of addiction and recovery, this conversation is for you.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Finding Strength While They Heal
August 31, 2026
Episode 008 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Drawing on Abraham Maslow’s reminder that growth often requires stepping beyond safety, this conversation focuses on the importance of becoming mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually well so you can offer meaningful support from a healthier place.
Joseph Devlin guides listeners through a practical self-care exercise designed to identify trusted people, build healthy weekly habits, strengthen spiritual life, and invite accountability from others. The episode also highlights the value of community support, including 12-step family groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon, as well as churches, temples, community centers, book clubs, yoga, karate, cooking groups, and other life-giving communities.
Through stories and practical encouragement, this episode reminds listeners that recovery affects the whole family—and that no one has to walk through it alone. By building a strong support network, you can find steadiness in chaotic moments, care for yourself with intention, and become a more grounded source of love and support for your loved one.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Loving Without Rescuing
August 24, 2026
Episode 007 of Family Sobriety Now
Family Voices
In this heartfelt episode, host Joseph Devlin sits down with Paul and Maureen to talk about their family’s long journey through their son’s addiction, recovery attempts, relapses, and the difficult decisions that helped them find peace along the way. They share what it was like to recognize the warning signs, move through denial, set boundaries, seek support, and learn that loving someone with addiction does not mean rescuing them from every consequence.
Paul and Maureen speak honestly about the toll addiction takes on an entire family, including siblings, parents, friendships, routines, and emotional well-being. They also discuss the importance of communication, faith, outside counseling, support groups, sober living, and accepting that hope may look different than parents once imagined.
For families walking through addiction with someone they love, this conversation offers reassurance that they are not alone. It is a candid reminder that boundaries can be an act of love, support is essential, and recovery is often a process filled with setbacks, growth, acceptance, and renewed hope.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
The Critical Window: Acting Quickly When Treatment Is Approved
August 17, 2026
Episode 006 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
In this episode, host Joseph Devlin walks families through the intake and assessment process for addiction treatment. He explains how to contact insurance, understand in-network and out-of-network benefits, connect with treatment facilities, prepare for an assessment, and advocate for the appropriate level of care for a loved one.
Joseph also emphasizes the importance of acting quickly once treatment is approved: arriving early, staying present through the assessment, transporting a loved one directly to the facility, and maintaining momentum during a critical window of change. This conversation offers practical guidance, encouragement, and reminders for families navigating one of the most emotional and important steps in the recovery journey.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Recovery Takes a Plan
August 10, 2026
Episode 005 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Joseph Devlin borrows tips from A Step Out of Darkness and breaks down the different levels of addiction treatment, from detox and inpatient care to partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, general outpatient support, sober living, and long-term recovery options.
Joseph reminds families that treatment is not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all solution, but a continuing process that often requires follow-up care, accountability, family involvement, and a strong recovery community. Through practical guidance and a personal story from his work in treatment, he offers hope that recovery is possible—even when the road has been long—and encourages families to stay engaged, informed, and ready to support their loved one’s next step.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Intervention: Leading with Love, Not Hurt
August 03, 2026
Episode 004 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Host Joseph Devlin digs into Chapter 3 from his book, A Step Out of Darkness, and explores the role of intervention in helping a loved one enter treatment. He emphasizes that interventions are not about turning your back on someone, but about using the power of loving relationships, encouragement, and accountability to help them take the next step toward recovery.
Joseph explains why involving a trained interventionist can help families prepare, communicate from a place of healing rather than hurt, and create a supportive path forward. He also reminds listeners that recovery is not one-size-fits-all.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Addiction Is Not a Lack of Willpower
July 27, 2026
Episode 003 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Joseph Devlin continues to dive into the intricacies of A Step Out of Darkness and explores why addiction cannot be reduced to a simple lack of willpower. He explains how addiction affects the brain, body, instincts, and behavior, helping families better understand why their loved one may feel unable to “just stop” despite serious consequences.
Joseph also emphasizes the importance of dignity, compassion, and holistic treatment that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. Through personal reflection, practical examples, and the reminder that “behind every addict is a family,” he encourages listeners to identify supportive people, explore recovery communities, and prepare resources that can help individuals and families take the next step toward healing.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Rebuilding Together
July 27, 2026
Episode 002 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Joseph Devlin dives into Chapter Two of A Step Out of Darkness and reflects on the widespread impact of addiction on individuals, families, and society. He shares sobering statistics about substance misuse, overdose, and the economic cost of addiction while emphasizing that the crisis is not limited to any one group or community.
Joseph also reinforces the idea of “family sobriety,” encouraging listeners to rebuild and strengthen the family unit as a foundation for long-term recovery. Through practical suggestions such as identifying family values, sharing meals, creating simple family routines, attending worship together, and practicing love through small daily actions, he reminds families that recovery begins with connection, consistency, and compassion.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Welcoming Recovery Home
July 27, 2026
Episode 001 of Family Sobriety Now
A Step Out of Darkness
Host Joseph Devlin welcomes families who are facing the pain, confusion, and uncertainty of a loved one’s addiction. Speaking from his own lived experience in recovery, as well as his professional background as a counselor, treatment center auditor, clinical director, author, and former first responder, Joseph explains why family involvement is essential to long-term sobriety. He stresses the mission of the podcast: to help families recognize warning signs, understand treatment options, support recovery, set healthy boundaries, and replace fear and judgment with practical solutions, compassion, and hope.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/
Introduction to Family Sobriety Now
July 20, 2026
Episode 000 of Family Sobriety Now
In the introductory episode of Family Sobriety Now, host Joseph Devlin welcomes families who are facing the pain, confusion, and uncertainty of a loved one’s addiction. Speaking from his own lived experience in recovery, as well as his professional background as a counselor, treatment center auditor, clinical director, author, and former first responder, Joseph explains why family involvement is essential to long-term sobriety. He introduces the mission of the podcast: to help families recognize warning signs, understand treatment options, support recovery, set healthy boundaries, and replace fear and judgment with practical solutions, compassion, and hope.
Learn more about your host - Joseph Devlin MA, CAADC, MAC – and his book, A Step Out of Darkness, at https://josephbdevlin.org/my-book/