Addiction and substance abuse can have lasting effects on the family unit and can even break families apart. Families marked by substance abuse often have a pattern of unpredictability and a lack of communication, making growing up hard for some children.
Family History
According to a paper written by psychologist Jean Paul Smith in 1995 for the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, people who have a family history of drug and alcohol abuse are at higher risk for having a substance abuse problem than those who came from more stable homes. Smith also concludes that families with psychological and social health problems are at higher risk of developing incidences of substance abuse.
Behavioral Effects
The Center on Addiction and the Family says that parents who are addicted to drugs are much more likely to be child abusers. In families plagued by substance abuse, there are more instances of low self-esteem, divorce, unemployment and legal problems. Sexual abuse is also more common in families where rules and communication are negligible or nonexistent. All of this contributes to behavioral problems in the children of substance abusers. They are more likely to have truancy issues and have difficulty in school, both scholastically and behaviorally.
Medical Effects
Death may be the primary and most emotionally traumatizing medical effect of substance abuse in families. Overdose and death due to complications of drug use can cause emotional and psychological problems within family units. In addition children of substance abusers tend to have a higher rate of physical illnesses, notes the Center on Addiction and the Family. These illnesses are believed to be stress-induced and include enteritis, colitis and asthma.
Psychiatric Effects
When a mother drinks or abuses drugs during a pregnancy, the child may be born with severe psychiatric dysfunction and mental retardation. The Center on Addiction and the Family notes that children of alcoholics have a higher rate of eating disorders than other children and teenagers. They have more anxiety and depression, gambling issues and antisocial personality disorder, a disorder marked by severe disregard for others. They also have a higher suicide rate.
Emotional Effects
There can be many emotional affects on a family, and substance abuse is especially harmful to the children involved. Children dealing with unstable family lives may never fully develop a sense of trust with others due to their background and past. Family members may also blame one another for the abuse, leading to guilt and shame. Children and other family members affected by substance abuse may deal with severe insecurities and conflicts related to sexuality. People in families marked by substance abuse may also have constant fear related to the health and well-being of their affected family member.
Educational Effects
Drugs and substance abuse can have serious effects on mental health and short-term memory, according to Smith. Students and adults in learning situations who abuse substances may have impaired senses and perceptions, while cognitive operations falter. However, education can also be a major step for many students involved in families with substance abuse. Children can learn about healthy relationships, find positive role models and get involved with healthy activities, minimizing the risks associated with family substance abuse and lowering the risk of becoming an abuser themselves.
References
- The Center on Addiction and the Family: Effects of Parental Substance Abuse on Children and Families
- United Nations International Drug Control Programme: The Social Impact of Drug Abuse
- The Center on Addiction and the Family: Medical and Psychiatric Consequences
- The Center on Addiction and the Family: Educational Consequences
- The Center on Addiction and the Family: Emotional Consequences
