The true meaning of recovery and the effect of drug use on the family are two topics of debate in the drug sector, but so far have not been sufficiently addressed as intertwining issues. With families increasingly recognised on the UK government agenda and a broad, holistic understanding of recovery becoming more accepted, it is wise to examine the links between family involvement and ‘true’ recovery. Drawing on a seminar held by Adfam and DrugScope on the positive role families can play in supporting recovery from drug dependency, this paper considers recovery and the family as mutually reinforcing and suggests ways of moving forward to improve outcomes for problematic drug users, their families and wider society.