Substance abuse not only affects the drug user, it can have far-reaching effects for the entire family. Immediate family members, such as parents, children and siblings, experience the effects of drug use more than the extended family, with children suffering the most. However, the longer someone uses drugs the worse it disrupts the entire family system.
Nuclear Family
With the traditional nuclear family assuming more diverse and varied structures, the effects of substance abuse can be as varied as the family system involved. According to "The Alcoholic Family in Recovery: A Developmental Model," by S. Brown and V. Lewis, spouses of substance abusers with small children may attempt to compensate through their children for the deficiencies they themselves experience because of their partners' drug use. Some children act as surrogate spouses to using parents. In a single-parent home, children may adopt age-inappropriate behavior to compensate for parental deficiency.
Extended Family
Drug abuse problems can extend far beyond the immediate family. The abuse causes alienation and indifference in extended family members, resulting in feelings of abandonment, anger, guilt and helplessness, and causing lack of trust that may last for years. Intergenerational problems such as poor role modeling and emotional issues may arise. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, "A child with a parent who abuses substances may grow up to be an overprotective and controlling parent who does not allow his or her children sufficient autonomy."
Codependency Issues
Codependency is prevalent in situations in which the substance abuser lives with an enabling relative. The family member protects the user, loses his own sense of self and develops low self-esteem. Codependent individuals are controlling and feel they are the only ones who can take care of the addict. They end up living their lives for the user and have a pathological desire to be needed. The codependent issue must be addressed along with the substance abuse for success in recovery.
Children of Substance Abusers
Children of substance abusers, while suffering the most during the family member's active addiction, may also exhibit residual psychological problems later in life. Behavior problems such as truancy, rebelling against authority and an anti-social attitude can develop. However, there are also instances of the child developing excellent coping skills, resulting from early exposure to stressful situations and adverse conditions. Generally speaking, the effects of substance abuse by parents can cause developmental problems in children. Early intervention by a qualified professional may be required to treat the emotional issues of the child.
Family Treatment
Treatment for the user, as well as concurrent treatment of family members is recommend by Family Drug Treatment, an organization dedicated to helping families in recovery . Participation of the affected family members in therapy helps to address the underlying issues. The longer the substance abuser has been using, the deeper the family involvement in the unhealthy relationships may be. The primary focus of treatment in the beginning should be on the children of the addict. Substance abuse can break families apart. Seeking the proper treatment as soon as possible will reduce the damage to the family structure.
