The term prodependence is, rather obviously, a play on an older term with which most readers will probably be familiar—codependence. Prodependence occurs when attachment relationships are mutually beneficial—with one person’s strengths filling in the weak points of the other, and vice versa—and this mutual support occurs automatically and without question. There is a huge difference between prodependence and codependence in terms of how we view the caregiving loved ones of addicts and other troubled individuals.
