The effects of long-term drug use are never limited to the addict and can have substantial and devastating effects on the user's families. These include eventually dissolving the family or physical, emotional and mental injury to family members. However, despite the user's knowledge of the devastating effects on his family, drug addiction often becomes long-term.
Definition
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) refers to drug addiction as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences. There are three primary groups of drugs. Class A drugs include heroin, cocaine/crack, ecstasy (E), LSD (acid) and magic mushrooms. Class B drugs normally include amphetamines and cannibis; some class C drugs can be legal and include anabolic steroids, poppers, alcohol and tobacco.
Effects to the User
Long-term use of drugs have physical, mental and emotional effects on the user. Drug abusers have a greater risk of contracting diseases, which they often neglect and can easily pass on to family members. Those with mental health issues who abuse drugs can make their mental health issues worse. As the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) warns, even cannabis can cause a mild form of schizophrenia. Long-term addiction can cause depression, irritability, anxiety and aggression in the user, which in turn affect family members.
Physical Dangers to the Family
Babies born to mothers who abuse drugs have increased rates of birth defects and brain damage. Parents and guardians who are drug abusers often neglect vulnerable members of the family--namely, their children. Moreover, as a study published in the "Clinical Psychology Review" warns, all types of drug abuse can increase the risk of violence to family members. Hospitals are frequented not only by the drug addict, but also by the victims of their crimes.
Family Dynamics
Because long-term substance abuse changes behavior, family members take on dysfunctional roles that develop lifelong patterns of dysfunctional relationships, according to Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Family members often become hostile to the abuser. Sometimes family members use the resources that they would otherwise use for the well-being of the family to help the addict, adding to emotional and physical deprivation. Family members often take on roles aimed to keep the family together, rather than on helping the abuser seek treatment, thus strengthening dysfunctional cycles.
Treatment
Therapy that focuses on how to break cycles passed down through substance abuse is helpful for family members, particularly children of drug abusers, recommends a study in the journal "Drug and Alcohol Dependence." Other types of therapy include rehabilitation for the drug user and medical therapy to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
References
- HealthyPlace.com: Impact of Addiction on Family
- "Drug and Alcohol Dependence: Parental Substance Use Disorder and the Risk of Adolescent Drug Abuse: An Event History Analysis"; John Hoffman and Felicia Cerbone; Volume 66, Issue 3, May 2002: 255- 264.
- "Clinical Psychology Review: Drug Abuse and Aggression between Intimate Partners: A Meta-analytic Review"; Todd Moore et al., Volume 28, Issue 2, February 2008: 247-274
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Understanding Addiction
- Center for Addiction and Mental Health: Drug Addiction Information
