Many people are fairly well-versed regarding the potential short and long-term ills associated with using drugs. However, what is often overlooked is the impact said behavior has on the families and other trusted associates of those battling addiction.
Adverse Impacts Addiction Has On Family Members
One individual’s chemical dependency can have numerous detrimental personal, social, and economic impacts upon their familial and friendly relations, such as:
Emotional Turmoil
The family and friends of addicts often ride an emotional roller coaster. Said individuals witness the physical and mental impact drugs take on their loved ones but often feel powerless to stop said behavior.
Moreover, many addictive substances can significantly alter a user’s actions. Dependents often render poor decisions and execute potentially ill-fated activities. Ergo, loved ones often spend time demonstrating excessive worry when their addicted kin is away from home.
Threatening Environment
Various drugs can loosen a user’s inhibitions, increase their strength and endurance, and precipitate a plethora of negative emotions, such as frustration and anger. When these negative forces build up and combine, the addict could become violent. Such outbursts could result in said individuals becoming physically abusive.
Moreover, drug dependents usually are not always known for socializing with the most upstanding crowd of people. Occasionally, substance abusing family members might bring unscrupulous or even criminal elements home.
Negative Mindsets
Quite often, close relations, especially an addict’s parents might develop negative mindsets. For example, said subjects might respond by blaming themselves for their loved ones malfeasant actions. Such circumstances could ultimately result in physical illness or mental issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Mistrust
Addiction is an illness. One major manifestation is mental craving. Said urges convince afflicted subjects that nothing is more important than satisfying that fix. Therefore, addicts will often do whatever is necessary to curb said desires.
In many cases, this will involve lying, cheating, and continually disappointing people placing trust in them. As this unprincipled conduct drags on, a dependent’s close associations lose greater levels of trust in them. Eventually, their trust or faith may completely erode.
Precipitates Negative Roles
Addiction is often so difficult for an addict’s love ones to own up to or face that they adopt negative roles. In a discernible amount of instances, family members attempt to ignore the problem mistakenly believing the problem will resolve on its own.
Under different circumstances, close associations often become enablers. This means they make decisions and take actions allowing their loved one to continue engaging in bad deeds that either directly or indirectly contribute to their dependency.
Isolation
Oftentimes, it is human nature for friends and acquaintances to avoid people experiencing difficulties. Many former relations simply will not understand the situation or find witnessing it too difficult.
Regardless, the families of addicts often become ostracized. Such abandonment might result in isolation and the numerous problems associated said occurrence could cause.
Lost Relationships
Sometimes, even families reach a point where they can no longer bear to watch their loved one give in to their addiction. In such circumstances, issues, like divorce, separations, breakups, and lost time with children might result.
Financial Strains
An addict’s dependence could very well deplete a family’s financial resources. For example, the stricken subject’s behavior could result in legal trouble. Expenses, such as bail and lawyer fees could prove to be quite pricey over time.
Additionally, addict’s might even steal from their families. Once again, it must be reiterated that a substance dependent individual’s mind is solely focused on funding their next fix. When their own resources dry out, they must obtain said finances anyway they can. Oftentimes, that means resorting to thievery.
Actions Family Members Can Take
Arguably, the best course of action is to try and convince a loved that their addiction is out of control and they need help corralling the problem. That said, this choice ultimately rests in the addict’s hands. Seeking help is something the afflicted subject must decide to do on their own accord.
Fortunately, however, family members might find some solace by partaking in one or several of the following coping methods:
- Connecting with other groups of people experiencing similar circumstances
- Attending family therapy sessions
- Educating themselves about the addiction
- Showing tough love
Above all, impacted relations need to protect their health. This means ensuring they get enough sleep, consume a nutritious diet, obtain adequate amounts of exercise, and partake in relaxing leisure activities.
About Us
Our Houston-based facility has helped numerous former addicts from across the Midwestern and southern United States conquer their demons and recapture happy, healthy, and fruitful lives. We firmly believe we can do the same for others. Call us at 833-364-0736.