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No matter who has the problem in the family, addiction puts a burden on relationships. It doesn't matter if it's a sibling, a parent, a spouse, or a child. To some extent, each family member deals with addiction.
According to research, there is a lot of overlap between parents who work in the child welfare system and those who work in substance abuse treatment. It's challenging to find these families since neither child welfare nor substance abuse treatment requires the same level of data to identify families in both systems.
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Children can be harmed by their parent's substance use and experience with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). One out of every eight children has a parent who has had a substance abuse problem in the last year alone.
When a child has a parent with a SUD, they are more likely to have a poorer socioeconomic standing and more significant challenges in academic contexts, social and family functioning than those with no parents dealing with a SUD.
A child's emotional and physical well-being is often in harm if they are exposed to a home torn by drug usage as a child. They may become more psychologically and emotionally traumatized. Children may acquire intense guilt and self-blame for a parent's drug abuse.
In maturity, they may develop feelings of inadequacy or problematic attachments. This may then lead to children being removed from their parents' homes and placed in foster care in extreme instances.
As a result, it's crucial to understand some of the most prevalent adverse effects of substance or drug misuse in children so that medical care can be sought out as soon as possible. Some of the most typical negative consequences of drug abuse include:
Parents who have a child suffering from drug addiction have unique challenges. They tend to blame themselves for their child's decision and question where they went wrong. They're always concerned about their safety and well-being.
Many parents try to financially assist their children in the hopes that they will improve their lives. Some parents have an overbearing and enabling role in their children's lives. As their child grows older, this fosters an unhealthy dependency relationship.
Alternatively, elderly parents of those who have substance use disorders may retain improperly reliant ties with their grown children, losing out on the critical "launching phase" in their relationship, which is vital to all family members' development.
This typically makes it challenging to let go of the child and parent dynamic and transition into the adult child and parent relationship. Drug abuse often dampens the dynamic relationships between immediate and even extended family.
Extended family members are tapped to give care and financial and emotional assistance. Grandparents are typically the primary caregivers. Friends and neighbors may be asked to assist with the child care, thus creating a cyclical impact of strained relationships in and out of the home.
Working with drug abuse specialists and psychologists is necessary for adults and children in a family dealing with excessive substance abuse. Get more information on seeking help from Radical Rehab and take a step towards recovery today.
Gary McKenzie is Radical Rehab’s CEO. He is committed to helping people with alcohol and drug addiction. Gary made it his mission to spread knowledge and resources to those in need.
