Addiction Harm to Family

As you read in Alcohol and Drug Addiction Affects Entire Family Part 1, alcohol and drug addiction affects entire families, not just the addicted person.

The effects of a substance use disorder (SUD) are felt by the whole family.

According to NCBI (The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice), the family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society.

Treating the Addict Alone is Limited in Effectiveness

An addicted person can cause financial strain on his or herself as well as family and loved ones. When the well runs dry funding the habit, an addict will reach out to family first for money. Unknown to the family initially, the money will go towards more drugs and alcohol; instead of helping the addict get life back in order.

Along with financial stress, families experience the dwindling of relationships when addict is part of their family. More time getting high or drunk will mean less time for maintaining relationships and will cause family members to experience all sorts of terrible emotions regarding the situation.

These are only two of the ways addiction affects an entire family. These situations, as well as others, may indicate that it is time to consider addiction rehab centers.

The impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members is serious and merits attention. Each family, and each family member, is uniquely affected by the individual using substances. This includes, but is not limited to: having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against family members.

For children there is also an increased risk of developing an SUD themselves (Zimic & Jakic, 2012). As a result, treating only the individual with the active disease of addiction is limited in effectiveness.

How else can addiction affect families?

Involvement of Children

Does the addicted person in question have children? How do you think addiction will affect the children? Serious emotional damage is caused from children being around alcohol and drug addiction. All kinds of abuse take place when an addicted person is no longer thinking for themselves.

Drug and alcohol controlled personalities may lead to physical, emotional – and even sexual abuse.

Many children may never get over the long-term effects of being around an addicted parent. If it is difficult to see or even think about your children suffering – you need to get the addict help as soon as possible.

New Start Recovery Solutions has Northern California addiction rehab centers ready to help your family. And to help the addicted individual overcome addiction and take control of life again.

Effect of a Parent’s Addiction on Children

It is estimated that more than eight million children younger than age 18 live with at least one adult who has a SUD that is a rate of more than one in 10 children. The majority of these children are younger than age 5 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2010).

The studies of families with SUDs reveal patterns that significantly influence child development and the likelihood that a child will struggle with emotional, behavioral, or substance use problems (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2003). The negative impacts of parental SUDs on the family include disruption of attachment, rituals, roles, routines, communication, social life, and finances. Families in which there is a parental SUD are characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss, conflict, violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal, and fear.

Spouse or Significant Other

When there are children involved, there is likely a spouse or significant other that suffers as well. Intimate relationships are ruined by addiction.

Again, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse can take place. Lying, cheating, and manipulation are all things that the partner may experience from the addict.

Although the spouse or significant other may want to stay with the addict for the children’s sake, or to try and help the addicted person get better – the continued relationship neglect and/or abuse often leads to separation or divorce. Continued neglect over time makes it difficult to fix damage later on.

Our Northern California addiction rehab centers can bring your family and the addicted individual together for an intervention, detox and full addiction recovery treatment.

For many years, New Start Recovery Solutions has brought families together to overcome alcohol and drug addiction at our Northern California rehab centers.

Experiencing Addiction in Your Family?

Call us at 866-303-6275. Or contact New Start Recovery Solutions.

We will give you more information regarding alcohol and drug addiction treatment at our East Bay, Oroville, Bangor and Los Molinos addiction rehab centers.

We also can recommend addiction treatment programs in Northern California.

Contact New Start Recovery Solutions for details and more information on addiction treatment programs that will fit your needs – and works best for you.

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• If you or your loved one is located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Bay Area, San Rafael, Monterey, Sacramento, Chico, Paradise, Redding, Martinez or other Northern California area – and are dealing with a drug abuse or an alcohol use disorder – welcome to evidence-based whole person addiction treatment at New Start Recovery Solutions.
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