Substance Abuse and Impacts on the Family - Term Paper Example

 Substance Abuse and Impacts on the Family Introduction In the American social community, families changed from the customary nuclear family to solo parent, multigenerational families, foster families and step families. Therefore, in the case where a person in the family abuses substance, the outcome on the family depends on the family structure. The intent of the text below is to analyze the impacts of substance abuse, by a family member, on the family. In a typical family, children view their parents as “superheroes” and they both have a strong bond. However, families in which substance abuse is an issue, there are a number of consequences including economic and psychological consequences, which children, couples and guardians/parents experience. The impacts of substance misuse on the family may affect the family in a number of ways dependent on the family structure. Additionally, the impacts also vary dependent on the individual and the position he or she holds in the family. Studying the effects of substance abuse in the family is an essential factor that aids in preventing the harmful intergenerational cycle of drug abuse. The research study below divides the effects according to the position held by the subject victim; for example, the impacts when the victim is a father, single parent, child or mother. The research carried out involves implementing observation skills in studying past investigations carried out, reading archival data and reading reports. The study points out some of the common consequences of substance abuse on the family. Substance abuse and addiction affects many American families leading to physical, economic and psychological consequences. Body Based on a report by the National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, drug and substance abuse has a number of effects on the family. Investigations indicate that children are the most affected population due to parental substance abuse. Some of the impacts viewed include increase divorce, increase in the role of grandparents, compromised health and several other impacts. Drug and substance abuse leads to the development of conflict between couples, which may eventually lead to divorce. In 2003, the rate of divorce cases was half that of the marriage rate; that is for each two marriages there was one separation. In most cases, conflict arises, as a result of, irresponsible behavior, monetary neglect and general obligation neglect. When a father neglects his role as the breadwinner of the house, the mother and her children feel unappreciated. In some cases, substance abuse, especial alcoholism and use of other chemical drugs lead to violence in the family. Concurrently, when the mother is an addict, she is unable to perform her role as the main provider of emotional support in the family. Research indicates that 50 percent of children who grow up with such parents end up as addicts. Divorce leads to vast psychological disorders in children and also leads to shift in parental roles. The situation forces one parent to take over both responsibilities (Family matters: substance abuse and the American family, 2005). It leads to an increase in the role of grandparents in children’s lives. There is a rise in the number of grandparents acting as the principal custodians of their grandchildren. That is, as a result of, inadequate quality concern from parents due to substance abuse. In 2002, 5.6 million children in the United States dwelled in a household that included their grandparents. Furthermore, a third of that population did not have their parents present. Such cases arise due to neglect of parental duties and child abuse. In cases whereby the parent is in rehabilitation, the grandparents of the child forcibly hold no other option, but to step in and take care of the children. However, psychological studies show that children brought up by their grandparents, in the absence of the guardian end up as substance abusers. Additionally, grandparents’ may implement their ineffective parenting skills in raising their grandchildren, which contributed to substance abuse in theirs (Lessenger, 2007). Living with a substance abusing family member can put the health of other family members in jeopardy. As mentioned earlier, children are the most affected population. Pregnant or nursing mothers, who smoke, drink or abuse any other drug compromise the health of their born and unborn children. Exposure to nicotine and alcohol during pregnancy leads to premature delivery, low birth weight and long-term cognitive disabilities in children. Additionally, infants exposed to smoking may suffer diverse psychological disorders that alter their behavior, which may lead to vulnerability to substance abuse. Prenatal exposure to alcohol increases the chances of developing mental health issues and other physical disabilities. Drug and substance abuse also affects the fertility rate in both men and women thus leading to a decrease in family sizes. Other family members are also susceptible to accidents and injuries due to subject irresponsibility. In 2002, substance abuse led to 46 percent homicide cases and 41 percent fatal accidents. That affects the family in several ways such as fiscal constraints due to single parenthood, increase in the number of orphans and double parenting roles (Family matters: substance abuse and the American family, 2005). Based on the CASA report, substance abuse leads to financial problems in the family. Most addicts stand at a greater risk of losing their jobs, long-term unemployment, poor performance and accidents, which put their families under intense financial pressure. For most alcoholics and other drug users, they have a difficult time focusing on their obligation at the work place and often end up sucked. Irresponsibility plays a key role in long-term unemployment and accidents. For that reason, other family members have to toil harder in order to reimburse for the loss and expenses incurred. Additionally, economic pressures may arise, as a result of, diversion of all family finances towards health funding. Substance abusers also do not have the ability to handle their finances; hence, they eventually misuse it in buying the drugs or alcohol. In 2002, almost half of the addicts under medication used their earnings and savings while close to a quarter percent received money from family members. These impacts lead to poor living standards, poverty and lack of any economic development (Family matters: substance abuse and the American family, 2005). Substance abuse leads to marital dissatisfaction among couples and leads to weakened family ties. Apart from scenarios where marriages end up in divorces, other effects include family violence, shifting family roles, child abuse and stigmatization from the society. Substance abuse in families leads to an increase in unhappy marriages. Unhappy marriages act as a motivator to subsequent alcohol abuse by other family members leading to the creation of a vicious drug abuse cycle. Other family members often switch to unconventional marital roles, which are often inappropriate in order to adapt to the unreliable and sometimes demanding behavior of addicts. The mother may need to takeover paternal roles while the father may have to handle maternal responsibilities. Another attribute of incompetent marriages is partner violence. Violence increases as the level of addiction and irresponsibility rises and it arises from either the user or the victim. In such situations, children result to drug abuse as a way to deal with the distress and stress. Additionally, cases of homicides and suicides elevate due to drug and substance abuse. Women who are subjects to drug addiction often become victims of partner violence. Further studies also show that most women who abuse drugs find themselves in violent relationships even after they remarry. The violence may extend to the children leading to child abuse. Families affected by drug abuse suffer social stigmatization, inequity and seclusion from the rest of the society. Subject families tend to withdraw from any social, religious and cultural activities. Consequentially, the society itself tends to detach itself from such families and informally excommunicates it from its activities. The family faces a self-imposed isolation and stigmatization. Despite the fact that it is one member of the family who is an addict, the society views the whole family negatively and does not want to associate with it. Children face discrimination in school and most involve themselves in violent relationships with other school members. If it becomes unbearable, they withdraw from school. Poverty may also stand as another reason why families with substance users face such treatment from the society. In such circumstances, children in such families suffer in silence and undergo depression (Knudsen, 2009). In a short simple survey carried out, that took about three hours to conduct, the researchers came up with a number of observations that describe the impacts of substance abuse on various members of the family. Some of the general impacts featured include negativism, parental inconsistency, financial problems and psychological issues. In cases where the consumer lives on his or her own or with a spouse, the consequences involved are both economic and psychological. When the user lives with a partner and has minor children, the children often feel they are the main cause, and they feel guilty. Additionally, instances of child abuse feature in the category. If a child is an affiliate of a blended family (stepfamilies), social conflicts arise. Another observation made is when the user is old and has grown children. Here, most of the issues include overdependence and financial pressure on the children. The final observation, which involves adolescent children who are users, there is increased stigmatization, isolation and at least one of the parents is also an abuser. When a substance abuser lives alone or has a spouse, they face financial and psychological constraints. Most of the money earned buys drugs; therefore, the sober partner assumes the position of the provider. Some of the psychological disorders may include chronic anger, stress, anxiety and inappropriate sexual behavior. Emotional disorders lead to violence between partners and also lead to enhancement of stress and depression, which features in one or both of the spouses. In numerous cases, the user does not have a job; therefore one of them needs to work harder and raise enough money to sustain both parties. Additionally, medical expenses also lead to economic issues. The issue of codependency may also lead to the particular behavior such as controlling, low self-esteem and excessive complaints from the sober partner. When a user has a family, the young children often feel accountable and liable for their parent’s acts. Kids who live with a parent or parents who use illicit drugs believe that their guardians’ deeds are illegal, and they think they engage in such activity because of them (Straussner & Fewell, 2006). Alcohol and drug abuse affects children’s cognitive manners and leads to emotional stress. Some of the minors result to mental illness and withdrawal from the rest of the society. In several cases, children face neglect and abuse from their parents or parent both psychologically and physically. If not intervened, the children develop similar character, and the cycle passes on to future generations (Kaufman & Yoshioka, 2005). Surveys show that a large percentage of children who grow up as substance abusers belong to step-families (Swensen, 1994). Ordinarily, when a child goes through a divorce or one of the parents decides to move on, he or she faces various challenges. The circumstances lead to confusion since there are different rules, and it is a new environment. The child tends to use drugs, especially if the previous family had one of the partners doing the same. The children or adolescent may undermine the authority of his or her guardians. In such cases, disagreements arise between the user and the biological and new parent. The quarrel extends to other affiliates of the family (Straussner & Fewell, 2011). Cases where old family members are addicts to prescription drugs and alcohol, they rely on their grown up children for support. Most of them need medical support and broad support from their children, which leads to overdependence and financial pressure. Above handling immediate family needs, the child forcibly needs to take care of the parent. Finally, families associated with substance users face stigmatization and isolation due to the poor living conditions and the immoral aspect that features in substance abuse (Hoban, 1995). Conclusion In conclusion to the study above, the audience sees that the substance abuse has quite a number of impacts on the family. Most impacts revolve around physical, psychological, monetary and social impacts. From the qualitative study, each client’s actions affect the family in different ways depending on their position. In order to reduce such impacts, substance users, with the support of family and friends, need to undergo rehabilitation as a way to save both their lives and that of their kin. In the case of children and adolescents, special care and especially psychological care needs implementation so as to cut the continuous cycle that develops (Silverman, 1990). The family is the smallest component of the society, its strength reflects on the general public. Therefore, the society needs to chip in and aid in terminating substance abuse. References Family matters: substance abuse and the American family. (2005). New York, N.Y.: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Hoban, S., Piano, F. D., & Hasselt, V. B. (1995). Children and Adolescent Substance Abuse: Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 4(1), 79-89. Kaufman, E., & Yoshioka, M. R. (2005).Substance abuse treatment and family therapy. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Knudsen, H. K. (2009). Adolescent-only substance abuse treatment: Availability and adoption of components of quality. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 36(2), 195-204. Lessenger, J. E., & Roper, G. F. (2007).Drug courts a new approach to treatment and rehabilitation. New York: Springer. Silverman, W. (1990). Intervention strategies for the prevention of adolescent substance abuse. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 1(2), 25-34. Straussner, S. L., & Fewell, C. H. (2006).Impact of substance abuse on children and families: research and practice implications. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press. Straussner, S. L., & Fewell, C. H. (2011).Children of substance-abusing parents: dynamics and treatment. New York: Springer. Swensen, J. G. (1994, April 1). Adolescent Substance Abuse: Etiology, Treatment, and Prevention.. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 39, 1. Read More