Drug Addiction and Family-How drugs affect families

The family as a unit needs to be addiction free for the society to be free too

Family is a very important unit in the society. Before we can have a village, city, nation, continent or the glob we must first have a family. This is the very starting point. If we want to have a safe and peaceful society, village or nation the family must form the roots. Therefore if we want to have an addiction free society we must start with the smallest unit family. It because of this genesis that we want to discuss the effects of drug addiction in the family set up. This is going to be very interesting for you because I believe that you come from a family somewhere. I am inviting you to take a moment and be in this family of addiction knowledge by reading this article to the end.

Like we have said before addiction affect all people in indiscriminately and the effects can either be direct or in direct. As a unit of family members can be affected even if the drug consumer is not an addict yet and so when a member of the family is abusing a given drug say alcohol the whole family is affected. In many cases the person (family offender) may not be an addict or an alcoholic. They are just drinking or taking drugs in a way which upsets others. Having this at the back of our mind let us interrogate some of these scenarios:

• How a parent with a drug or alcohol problem affects the whole family
• How a partner with a drug or alcohol problem affects the other partner
• How a parent’s addiction may affect their children
• How a son or daughter with an addiction problem affects the whole family
• Family support

Drug Addiction and Family-Parent with a drug or alcohol problem affects the whole family

In many cases parents are the bread winners of most families, when the bread winner is not in control of his or her behavior then the whole family is in pain which can only heal when immediate corrective measures are taken to salvage the situation and especially the children.  Talking of the children the actions of their addictive parents is a serious risk factor to them because they are likely to fall victims of drug addiction in the future. The parents will not have the moral authority to inspire healthy living in their children because themselves they have fallen and so the entire family is affected.

Drug Addiction and Family-Partner with a drug or alcohol problem affects the other partner

People get into different partnerships for different reasons. The objectives of the partnership are always well outline with each partner taking their role so that the ultimate objective is achieved. It is not easy to live with a person who’s drinking or drug use is causing problems. Normally they are full of conflict, torn between wanting their drug or alcohol and not wanting the harm that always seems to follow. They often blame others when things go wrong.

The sober partner often feels hurt, ashamed, afraid, and has an overwhelming sense of failure. Unfortunately many partners work even harder to ‘fix’ the situation, taking on extra responsibilities, trying to cover up the mess… fighting a losing battle. This is a real problem in which if you are that partner, the first step towards putting things right is to take some time for yourself, and get the support you need. A good friend or a counselor can be a great help.

Drug Addiction and Family-Parent’s addiction affects their children

Children relay on parents for direction and guidance and if this is not forth coming from the parents then they will fumble on their own and may not do the right thing as is required. The people they see as their source inspiration are failing them. With this the following are likely to happen when the roles of parents are not done well:

• The Family Hero

This is often the eldest in the family. This person is responsible, works hard for approval, and often appears successful. But inside, this person often feels insecure, as if things are always going to go wrong, and feels incompetent, confused and angry.

• The Scapegoat

This person feels blamed when things go wrong. Everyone focuses on this person’s faults, which provides the family with a distraction from the real problem. So this person often seems rebellious, troublesome, law-breaking, tough… and may be at risk of abusing drugs themselves. Inside, this person is often full of fear, hurt, rejection and loneliness, feeling angry at the unfairness of how they are treated.

• The Lost Child

This son or daughter appears as a dreamer, drifting above the troubled waters that bother other people. But inside, the person is not as contented as they appear. They are quietly hurt, angry, lonely, with a feeling of being inadequate.

• The Mascot

Sometimes also referred to as the clown, the person in this role is often charming and cute, fun to be with, quick to make a joke. Sometimes they are quite hyper-active and flit from one interest to another; sometimes quite fragile and easily hurt. But they are good at hiding the hurt, and other feelings of loneliness, insecurity, fear and low self-esteem.

If you recognize any of these roles as being ‘you’, the first step to putting things right is to take time for yourself, to talk to a friend or a counselor. Stop thinking about the addicted person for a while (easier said than done!) and pay attention to your own real needs.

Drug Addiction and Family-How children with an addiction affects the whole family

Whole families can seem to go to pieces when there is a son or daughter using drugs or alcohol. Parents fall out with each other over how to handle the situation, while other sons or daughters can get blamed for being a bad example. The drug user gets so much attention that others are neglected. Rows and bad language upset the peace. If peace and love are the oxygen of life, then the whole family is gasping for breath.

In an airplane, if the oxygen masks are released, parents are supposed to put on their own masks before attending to their children’s masks. The same is true here. You must look after your own needs before helping the one causing the problem.

Even if you are the only person in the family who recognizes the alcohol or drug problem, it is worthwhile getting support for yourself, from a friend or a trusted teacher or a counselor. You may want to consider AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury. At this facility you will meet a team expert who will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE to help you get better in no time.

Drug Addiction and Family-How drugs affect families