http://therapistunlimited.com/index/Articles/Drug+Addiction/Drugs%3A+Effect+on+the+Family
Summary
The article I chose describes the problems families face when one of the family members uses illegal drugs. The article describes it in three sections: when a child uses drugs, when a parent uses drugs, and when a partner uses drugs.
When a child uses drugs
Parents spend their whole lives looking out for their children and trying to create a comfortable relationship with and lifestyle for them. When a child uses drugs it is important to not guilt him/her. Parents should always be communicative with their children about not using drugs. Statistics show that parents who communicate their desire for their kids to not use drugs are 50% less likely to have their kids use drugs. When children use drugs it’s important to get professional help.
When a parent uses drugs
When a parent uses drugs it affects the child in the following ways: it makes the child take a parental role, makes the child feel responsible for the addiction, and takes away the childhood from the child. Help must be sought out.
When a partner uses drugs
It is important for the sober partner to realize it isn’t their fault; they aren’t responsible for the addiction. Professional help must be sought out if the sober partner feels overwhelmed. It is important for the child of the relationship to have a parent to look up to, thus it is important to do the right thing.
All families operate in their own specific way, but drugs have a way of affecting everyone when just one member uses them. Drugs don’t discriminate and can affect anybody of any age. The most important thing to realize is professional help is the best solution to preserve the family.
Interesting Topic
I never quite thought of one of the potential family members to use drugs as being a partner/adult. It creates tension throughout the family, but so much of the blame is placed on the sober person by him/herself.
Question
At what point in a drug addiction is the right time to seek professional help? From anybody with experience in this topic what did you do? What would you do if a family member has a drug addiction? What steps would you take and do you think it’s possible to forgive somebody you love for hurting you so much?
Steve Boser
I think the right time to seek professional help with a drug addiction is when that is all you do. It is all you can think about and you start to lose some of your humanity because no one else's well being matters to you. I believe that this is when you truly know that there is a problem, and most people would debate that you should seek help earlier, but than I would make the comment well they should have stopped before they have even started. Also I think it is possible to forgive someone once. This may even take a while to truly forgive them, but I think it can happen. If this happens on numerous occasions though I think it will become harder each time.
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