Effects of Substance Abuse on Families

Substance abuse not only touches the person’s life that is abusing them, but the lives of the loved ones around him/her. This goes for spouses, parents, children and siblings. Even close friends.

The effects of substance abuse can reach extended family members as well. The effects of alcoholism and abuse of narcotics may leave others feeling resentful, embarrassed, anxious, angry, concerned, fearful, or even guilty. These feelings can make them cut ties with the person misusing drugs or alcohol.
Furthermore, these effects can dwell within families for generations. The long term effects of alcoholism and drug or narcotics abuse can negatively impact concepts of trust, role modelling, and normal behavior, which damages relationships among generations.

Friends, coworkers and neighbours, are also touched by the impact of substance abuse. An alcoholic or drug addict are often proven to be unreliable. An as a result, they can start resenting the addict.

Rehab and Recovery
Seeking help in rehab can truly help a lot of people who abuse substances, whether they are an alcoholic or drug addict. When dealing with alcoholism or the abuse of drugs or narcotics, it’s never easy, even on the family.

The family deals with a lot of it too. Which is why, when recovery starts, the impacted family should become involved whenever possible. Most Rehab facilities offer Family therapy sessions, but it is a good idea to continue them in recovery.

Family Problems
Addictions can create problems for the entire family prior to rehab, during rehab and even in recovery. These problems could include:

• Jealousy or Resentment
• Friction between You and Your Partner/Spouse
• Cheating
• Friction between You and Your Children
• Money Problems
• Violence
• Emotional Trauma
• Separation or Isolation
• Patterns: negative role modelling can influence your children or spouse. Which can increase the
  chances of your children becoming addicts
• Health Concerns

Family Therapy
Seeking help from qualified professionals who deal with substance abuse is always recommended. It’s a great option for family members of recovering addicts.

Family Therapy Can Provide A Multitude Of Helpful Ways Of Handling Addiction.
A Few Important Things Are:

• Support and resources, for both the person abusing substances and the family
• Ways for the addict and the family can better deal with the process of detoxing the person’s body and life of addiction
• Awareness of the addicts needs and triggers
• Lowers the risk of generational addiction (passing the addiction down through generations, i.e. like father, like son.

Recovering addicts must plan according to the needs of themselves and their family, because addiction touches more than just the addict. When it comes to the effects of substance abuse on families, the best way to positively deal with it is handling them head on.

Regardless if you are an alcoholic or you abuse drugs like meth or narcotics, family therapy is a great option for doing so.