Addiction

 

Effects on children - Witnessing the trauma of a parent suffering from addiction at a young age has long-term effects on the child. Children who grow up seeing a parent addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to develop SUDs in their adulthood. They are also 3 times more likely to be neglected or physically and/or sexually abused. Seeing a parent on drugs often invokes distressing emotions which not only create delays in learning and development but can also lead to prolonged mental and emotional disorders.

Since children are still developing their personalities and are vulnerable to external influences, they run the risk of repeating such behaviors. Children may be exposed to aggression or violent behavior due to a parent’s drinking. 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 a 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 or develop dysfunctional attachments in their adulthood.

Effect on relationships - With substance use dependence comes a re-shuffling of priorities. This re-prioritization can have a negative effect on relationships in many ways, including:

Flakiness

Acquiring and using that substance takes precedence over jobs, relationships, and other responsibilities. Users become less and less reliable to others as they obsess over their next dose.

Distrust

An addict may do whatever they can in order to get their next fix, and that includes lying and being deceitful to family and friends. Communication can also be adversely affected as distrust continues to build with each side afraid to disclose feelings and emotions.

Physical injury

Between 40-60% of domestic violence incidents are associated with substance use disorder. Not only can users cause physical harm in the home, but those who drive under the influence may injure themselves or others while out on the road.

Loss of support

Often, family members support an addict while they are in treatment, however, there is very little support or empathy when the addict relapses.

Enabling Whether one realizes it or not, relatives may be enabling loved ones in their addiction or substance abuse. He or she may ask for money for fuel or groceries, and while their loved one may suspect it is going to drugs, they provide it anyway.

SUDs can take a toll on family members and on the individual struggling with addiction. Luckily, there is help available.