Family is a pillar for every person. But sometimes there are cracks in that pillar. One of the worst scenarios is when a family member starts using drugs and won’t or can’t stop.
Drug addiction in the family is not one person’s problem. It’s like a snowball that rolls down a mountain, grabs more snow, increases in size. A little more and it will grab everything it can reach.
Drugs destroy families and change destinies. We tell you how it happens when parents or their children become addicted to drugs.
The devastating effects of drug addiction on family relationships
Drug use helps you relax and experience pleasure. So why is it bad for the family?
Here are 3 main reasons:
- drugs are addictive. Sometimes all it takes is one dose. Now this person is an addict. He’s only interested in the drugs and the family takes a back seat;
- severe withdrawal symptoms. To stay in a good mood, addicts need to constantly use psychoactive substances. Painful withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, muscle and headaches, tremors, etc. do not allow them to stop. When withdrawal symptoms manifest themselves, the addict becomes uncontrollable and can harm loved ones;
- drugs are expensive. One has to pay a lot of money for the feeling of euphoria. This affects the family’s livelihood. Addicts often lose their jobs and do not have enough money for basic needs. They sell valuable things or steal.
A drug addict in the family poses a danger to their loved ones, who may also become addicted. Therefore, drug addiction treatment is the first thing to be done if there is a drug addict in the family. The problem cannot be solved on your own, you need the intervention of specialists.
Relationship between parents
Adult family members are fully responsible for their actions. If the addict does not make attempts to solve the problem, and the second parent feels a strong emotional attachment, then in such a family there can be two addicts. Such families are characterized by abusive relationships, social isolation, and disadvantage. In this case, outside help is required — from grandparents. It is they who become the people who are able to bring their children for consultation with specialists. However, more often everything ends with the fact that the partner of the drug addict files for divorce and starts another family.
The impact on children
Children are left defenseless before parents who are unable to overcome drug addiction. They have no one to turn to for help. Therefore, they grow up in an unpredictable and unhealthy environment. This can have a negative impact on their adult life.
What are the options? One parent may be suffering from drug addiction. In this case, the other parent will either try to address the problem or ignore it. Children need to understand cause and effect and know that they are loved no matter what. And the main thing is that they are not guilty of anything, and what is happening now is an illness that needs to be treated.
Children who have a mom and dad who use substances have a harder time. In such a family there is a high probability of abuse or violence, children grow up insecure, with health problems and psychological traumas.
Children with addictions
Children are very susceptible to the influence of the people around them. Friends or casual acquaintances can be the reason why a child becomes interested in drugs. No parent is 100% safe from this scenario, no matter how well we raise our children.
Teenagers with addictions withdraw from, dislike, and distrust adults. They often manipulate their parents in an attempt to get more money and buy the dose they need. Children skillfully hide their addiction, so it is important to develop trusting relationships in the family on the model of friend-to-friend rather than boss-subordinate.
Relationships in families with more than one child are even more difficult to develop. A brother or sister of an addicted person may either follow a negative example or, on the contrary, see the real consequences and forever refuse even to try illegal substances. The role of parents in this case is to provide signs of attention to all children, not just those suffering from addiction.
There is a solution to the problem
When one of the family members falls ill, it’s never easy. But you shouldn’t think that nothing can be done about it. Any addiction can be treated. This can be done in a number of ways, but the first thing is to seek help from professionals. If you feel that you or your loved one is unable to cope with addiction on your own, you can turn to luxury drug rehab which is located in a picturesque place in California. Experienced specialists of the clinic will help you choose a suitable treatment program, and your family will be healthy and happy again.
