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Drug & Alcohol Addiction Information For Families

Watching a loved one struggle with alcohol and drug addiction can be a frightening journey. Here at Recovery Hubwe are here to support you through the initial steps in getting help for your loved one. More than half of the calls we receive are from family or friends and not the addict him/herself. Knowing where to start can feel like an overwhelming feat. We are here to help you with the process of education about treatment centers, addiction/alcoholism, interventions, and finding support for families.

The effects of alcoholism and drug addiction on families can cause more damage and pain than any other internal or external influence on the family unit. The impact of the drinker’s abuse or addiction is usually manifested differently with each member of the family and has long-term implications.

Children

Children that have an active alcoholic or addicted parent may believe that their parent’s drinking and or using is their fault. Once they get older, children may have difficulty and develop phobias and or exhibit perfectionist traits.  Some of the other effects on children may include:

› Low self-esteem
› Feelings of guilt and despair
› Loneliness and fear of abandonment
› Chronic depression
› High levels of anxiety and stress

Once children become adults, the effects of alcoholism on families can continue to impact their lives. They may experience difficulties trusting others and have relationship issues of their own.

Spouse or Partner

Alcoholism has a transforming effect on the spouse or partner that can create significant mental trauma and physical health problems. Divorce rates among couples where one or both partner’s drinks are much higher than average.

As alcohol abuse or addiction progresses, the non-drinking spouse often grows into a compulsive care-taking role, which creates feelings of resentment, self-pity and exhaustion. The marriage suffers from:

› Poor spousal communication
› Increased anger and distress
› Reduced intimacy and sexual desire
› Increased marital abuse
› Depleting finances spent on alcohol/drugs

Often the spouse or family member and children become codependent, as one of the effects of alcoholism on families. Codependents, who are also referred to as enablers, further the alcoholic’s drinking problem by trying to protect them and keep them out of trouble.

This may include telling an employer a lie about why the individual didn’t come to work, telling friends stories to explain the alcoholic’s or addict’s behavior, or handling a responsibility that should have been taken care of by the addict or alcoholic.

Codependency and enabling make the problem worse by permitting the drinking to continue.

Treatment for Families

The effects of alcoholism in families are difficult to overcome; yet without treatment, they can be devastating for the long-term. With the right approach and support, positive steps can be taken to improve their lives.

Recovery professionals may recommend a multi-faceted treatment approach that includes group family therapy, as well as individualized treatment for each family member. Treatment may take the form of one or more of the following:

› Interventions to assist the family
› Out-Patient Programs
› In-Patient Programs
› Peer Support Groups
› Individual Therapy

The Facts about Alcohol Dependence and Chemical Dependency

› The Journal of American Medical Association defines alcohol dependence as, “a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions of thinking.”

›The World Health organization estimates that about 140 million people throughout the world suffer from alcohol dependence.

› Psychiatric geneticists John I. Nurnberger, Jr., and Laura Jean Bierut suggest that alcoholism does not have a single cause—including genetic—but that genes do play an important role “by affecting processes in the body and brain that interact with one another and with an individual’s life experiences to produce protection or susceptibility.”

› The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) has categorized three stages of addiction: preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect. These stages are characterized, respectively, everywhere by constant cravings and preoccupation with obtaining the substance; using more of the substance than necessary to experience the intoxicating effects; and experiencing tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and decreased motivation for normal life activities.

› The National Institute of Drug and Alcohol states, “Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize those who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction—that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Through scientific advances we now know much more about how exactly drugs work in the brain, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and resume their productive lives.”

At Recovery Hub we have screened treatment centers nationwide to help you find the appropriate level of care for your loved one or family member. We will walk you through this process every step of the way and find the help, support and level of care that is specific to the individual needs you are looking for. Please do not hesitate on reaching out for support; it is our mission and goal to be of service in any way we can.