How Addiction Affects the Family 2021
How Addiction Affects the Family
Battling a substance use disorder is viewed by many as a personal experience. Because harmful substances have devastating effects on the user, many may not take into consideration other people directly involved. Spouses, children, and parents who witness a family member struggling with addiction experience emotional damage, as well as financial, legal, medical, and other consequences.
The effects of drug and alcohol addiction can be both short-term and long-term. Peaceful, loving homes can be divided by the strain caused by drug and alcohol abuse. Conflict becomes normal as family members fight to engage with a son or daughter who abuses heroin, for example. Trust begins to erode. Relatives may become more guarded if a relative abusing illicit substances acts with aggression or hides their disorder in secrecy. Marriages can end due to changes caused by addiction. Communication becomes more difficult, highlighting frustration.
Family members see their relative endure side effects of drugs or fly into rages when under the influence of alcohol. Others may see their relatives lose weight rapidly, becoming unrecognizable. Some may not hear from a loved one for an extended period of time, only to discover they are living on the street or have fatally overdosed. Such shock can cause a relative to endure severe trauma or develop unhealthy coping mechanisms like co-dependent behaviours in response.
How Addiction Impacts Young Children
Witnessing the trauma of a parent suffering addiction at a young age has long-term effects on the child. Children growing up seeing a parent addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to develop substance use disorders in their adulthood. They are also 3 times more likely being neglected, physically, and sexually abused. Seeing a parent on drugs often creates distressing emotions which not only create delays in learning and development, but pronged mental and emotional disorders.
Since children are still developing their personalities and are vulnerable to external influences, they run the risk of repeating such behaviours. Children may be exposed to aggression or violent behaviour due to a parent or both parent’s drug use. Arguments between parents may be normal, causing the child emotional distress as they witness family members fighting.
Early exposure to a home divided by drug use can cause the child to feel emotionally and physically neglected and unsafe. As a result, they can become more mentally and emotionally unstable. Children may develop extreme guilt and self-blame for a parent’s substance abuse. They may develop feelings of unworthiness for disturbances around the home or develop dysfunctional attachments in their adulthood. In extreme cases, children can be removed from the home and placed in alternative care.
The Effect of Alcohol Abuse on Children
Children whose parents suffer from an alcohol use disorder often notice certain troubling behaviours in their loved one. A mother or father may spend much of their free time away from family members drinking. For example, if a parent visits bars, they may miss out on family events, like a child’s after school activities.
Children with parents who drink often blame themselves for the parents’ uncontrollable behaviour. This can damage healthy relationships between the child and the parent. Children often experience self-judgement and self-criticism due to their unstable home life. They may assume the responsibility of helping the parent, have an overly serious attitude, or see the world in a negative light.
The child may develop different emotions in response to seeing a drunk parent. They may feel afraid, angry, confused, or mistrustful. Sadly, they may witness more difficult outcomes of alcoholism in the home if one or more parents argue or fight due to alcohol abuse. This may lead to children thinking troubled and unstable family dynamics are normal.
Perhaps the most serious consequence is them repeating an unhealthy dynamic into adulthood. It is well known that children of alcoholics are considerably more likely to become alcoholics, or abusers of other substances, themselves. Additionally, some children of parents struggling with alcoholism risk becoming co-dependent. Co-dependent people may attract individuals struggling with substance abuse disorders, become people pleasers, and assume the role of a caretaker. Co-dependents often forgo their needs and desires in order to make others happy.
Teenage Addiction Affects the Family
Teens who have experienced parental substance abuse are more likely to abuse substances in adulthood. Much of the cause of teenage addiction can stem from external (peer pressure in school) and internal factors (genetics and self-medication).
Substances like cocaine can over-stimulate teens, causing them to sleep less and perform poorly in school or hang out with friends who abuse substances. Prescription opioids and synthetic opioids may produce euphoric effects, but consequently require frequent use with damaging side effects.
The impact on family dynamics can include:
Coping with the Side effects/Withdrawal symptoms
Strained relationships
Financial hardships
Poor school performance
Exposure to other drugs
Reckless behaviour within the home
Stealing money from parents to support their habit
Running away from home
Causing parental grief
Teens can become overwhelmed by addictive substances and strained relationships at home and may want to run away from home. Parental distress can seemingly push troubled teens into the arms of a substance to “escape”. Above all, once a teen runs away from home, they are vulnerable to sexual, economical, and emotional exploitation.
Domestic Abuse and Alcoholism
One of the most serious instances of alcohol and family problems is domestic violence. Because of behavioural differences alcohol may cause, a relative suffering alcoholism can be dangerous to be around. Family members can express violence to their spouses or children. While alcohol abuse is never an excuse for or the only contributing factor to domestic violence, it is involved in the majority of incidents. It is also true that alcohol can cause someone to react more emotionally and with lowered inhibitions.
Divorce and Alcoholism
Spouses who drink may suffer depressive episodes, feeling isolated from the rest of their family. Watching a relative or spouse drink can encourage stress, mistrust, and acceptance of alcohol abuse disorders as reality.
On the other hand, the spouse who does not drink may become increasingly frustrated when their spouse is not helpful around the house, or not emotionally available. Furthermore, a spouse may become an enabler, denying the severity of the drinking problem. Families may separate, or married couples may opt for divorce.
Save Your Family and Take Control
Unfortunately, many with alcohol use disorders do not realize the impact on their family. Often, denial is a big part of not taking control of one’s drinking habits. One may not realize how easy it is to get help, but there are treatment providers waiting to take your call. A treatment provider can guide your family member to the best rehab for them. The treatment provider will also answer questions regarding rehab, and treatments. With all the options for help available, steps to sobriety can begin now.
Help is out there
Reach out to a dedicated treatment professional and learn how you can create the life you want.
