Drug Abuse and Its Affect on the Family and Their Child - Research Paper Example

Drug Abuse and Its Affect on the Family and Their Child Abstract The article aims to point out the harms that the drug abusers do when are on drugs. It is a common misconception that the harms done by drugs are only health related. Through this article, the harms of drugs on families are highlighted. These aspects of drug abuse may be ignored by some people as they are not as obvious as the physical aspects but in substance the damage done by these harms are much more as they can destroy families and relationships. Drug abuse and how it's affect the family and their child Drug is usually an illegal substance that causes addiction, habituation, or a marked change in consciousness. Commonly, drugs include marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or other street drugs. (Healthwise, 2008) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-addiction-alcohol-and-drug-problems,0,2194212.story Theme: Drug abuse is a habit that should be avoided. It doesn’t only detoriates a person’s health but also affects addicts’ personal and social life. A person under drug’s spell cannot be trusted. It is usually observed that an addict’s family suffers the most when the person is under spell of drugs. In this article, I have tried to list down the circumstances that a family of a person doing drug abuse has to endure. Effects of drugs: Majority of abused drugs generate intense sensation of satisfaction and gratification. The initial feeling of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the "high" is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opiates such as heroin is followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction. Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression begin abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings of distress. Stress can play a major role in beginning drug use, continuing drug abuse, or relapse in patients recovering from addiction. Abuse and families: Many parents that use drugs for gratification abuse will treat their families differently on various occasions depending on their level of sobriety. Often the mood swings and changes in parenting that these parents exhibit will confuse the child or make them insecure. Inconsistent care by a parent can lead to a child that either has to grow up quickly and assume adult responsibilities, or one that rebels and gives up trying to do well in school or life. Children in these homes need to constantly be prepared for a parent that is high or drunk, one that is irrational and unable to provide the care that a child needs. Families that suffer with substance abuse are more at risk for domestic violence, mental illness, divorce, and sexual and physical abuse than other families. These issues are very detrimental and can lead to children with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Children in these situations may be withdrawn and have trouble bonding with others. Often they feel that the problems of the family are their fault or that it is their job to conceal the problem, and this can lead to low self esteem, lack of desire to perform well in school, or fear of failure. It would be difficult for these children to make friends because of the fear that someone in the outside world will find out about their secret, or will witness the chaos firsthand. (Jared More, 2008) http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/22/effects-of-substance-abuse-on-children-in-the-family/ The following chart shows the use of drug abuse in families. (Australian Institute of Criminology) http://www.google.com.pk/imgres?q=Drug+charts+showing+family+substance+use&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=mAFIbvK2NncVrM:&imgrefurl= “Addiction is a developmental disease- it typically begins in childhood or adolescence.” (National Institute of Drug Abuse) http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/addiction.html Drug and alcohol use cause the following problems in families: 1) Jealousy: You can grow jealous of your friends, your partner, other family members and other people in your life. Your partner may also be jealous and resentful of you. 2) Conflict with Partner: You may have arguments, get/give the "silent treatment" or grow apart by putting your addiction first. 3) Conflict with Children: You may argue with your children and they may disregard your authority or be afraid of you. 4) Conflict over Money: You may struggle economically because of losing your job, taking time off from your job, making poor financial choices or simply pouring your money into your addiction. 5) Emotional Trauma: You may create emotional hardships for your partner and/or your children by yelling, talking down, insulting or manipulating. 6) Violence: You may become violent or your family members may become violent with you, including slapping, hitting or smashing or throwing objects. 7) Cheating: You may become distant from your partner and seek satisfaction through pornography, Internet sex, prostitution or someone else in your life who you feel "understands" you. 8) Separation: Your behavior due to addiction may cause separation, divorce, and/or isolation from other family members, particularly children, either because they've been taken from you or because they don't want to be around you. 9) Patterns: Your life example will influence your partner, your children and other family members. There is a high likelihood that your children will become addicted to drugs or alcohol. 10) Health Risks: Drinking while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome -- damage to the baby's brain. Smoking in the household can cause health problems for family members from secondhand smoke, including lung cancer. Being under the influence of drugs and alcohol will overall impair your judgment and can lead to neglect or harm. 11) Mistreatment of children: You live with a spouse or partner and young children: Parents' problems effect children. Often, one parent has an addiction and the other protects the children or assumes more parental responsibilities. If both parents have addictions, the effect on children is worse. Your addiction is likely to pass down to your children. 12) Instability of family: You have a step-family: Substance abuse impedes your step-family's integration and stability. You are older and have grown children: Family resources are needed to treat an older adult's substance abuse. Elder maltreatment may become an issue. You are younger and live with your family: The needs and concerns of siblings or other family members may get ignored because of crises caused by substance abuse. If you also have a parent who has a substance abuse problem, you're in danger of physical and/or emotional conflicts. (Lameman) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-addiction-families,0,2311189.story Summary: Drugs should be avoided at all costs to protect not only the person himself but also his family, a person under the effect of drugs is not only dangerous for himself but also for his family and society. In this article the harms done by drugs on the families, the extent to which these can destroy families and especially their profound impact on children who are part of such families was pointed out. References Australian Institute of Criminology. Figure 3: Offending and drug use indicators, by family substance abuse. Retrieved from http://www.google.com.pk/imgres?q=Drug+charts+showing+family+substance+use&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=mAFIbvK2NncVrM:&imgrefurl= National Institute of Drug Abuse. Drug Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/addiction.html Lameman. Effects of Substance Abuse on Families. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-addiction-families,0,2311189.story Healthwise. (2008). The Facts About Addiction. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-addiction-alcohol-and-drug-problems,0,2194212.story More, J. Effects of substance abuse on children in the family. Retrieved from http://www.treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com/blog/index.php/2008/09/22/effects-of-substance-abuse-on-children-in-the-family/ Read More