When drug addiction hits a family, everyone goes into survival mode. There’s a glaring problem, but no one seems to know how to make it better. Everything they do is to either try to fix the problem or just live with it. And unless the addict goes to drug treatment or alcohol rehab, things are likely to be rough for a long while. Here’s a review of some things families do when they have to live with drug addiction.

Family Members Change Roles To Deal With Drug Addict

When someone develops a drug addiction, their surrounding family members often adjust their roles to compensate for the change. For example, if one of the parents becomes addicted, the other parent will often adjust to make up for the loss of another adult. Sometimes another child (often the oldest) will take on a parentified role.

If a child develops an addiction, one or both of the parents may become extra focused on them. This extra attention may mean the other children (or parent) may need to fend for themselves more.

Family Members Develop Coping Skills

Coping skills can range from healthy and uplifting to unhealthy and destructive. The purpose of coping skills is to help a person get through something difficult. Some people will go inward to deal with the drug addict or alcoholic in their home. They may develop a fantasy world as a retreat or simply keep to themselves more. Others may throw themselves into their work or school activities. While these examples aren’t specifically damaging behaviors, they can be harmful if they become extreme.

Unfortunately, some family members end up using coping skills that are truly harmful. They develop angry aggressive behaviors, start doing illegal or immoral things like stealing or cheating on their spouse. Others may turn to drugs and alcohol themselves, hoping to drown their misery and frustration with their family.

Family Members Learn to Get Their Needs Met

Despite their adjustments and accommodations for the addict, all family members have needs. Eventually, each family member will find a way to get them met, even if it means they create more problems along the way. If a spouse is being neglected because of this, they may eventually stray from the marriage to find companionship.

When one of the children is addicted, another one may start acting out in destructive ways or revert to more childish dependent behaviors. Even though everyone may be trying to hang on to the skeleton of their family, some families self destruct in this situation. Too much pain and destruction for everything to stay together.

Drug Rehab May Save A Family

Drug addiction or alcoholism can cause a family to spin out of control. Drug rehab can help if that person decides to take that first step. Since drug addiction obviously affects more than just the addict, drug rehabs usually have family programs along with their addiction treatment. This helps the entire family group face and cope with the realities of drug addiction. If your family is affected by drug addiction or alcoholism, contact your local drug rehab center today and find out more. Your family doesn’t have to suffer anymore because of an untreated addiction.

Tags: drug treatment, drug-rehab, How The Family Survives With Drug Addiction

   

About Erika K.

       

Erika K. has studied addiction and recovery for over ten years. As an accomplished writer, she uses the power of words to help men and women of all ages better understand issues of dependence and substance abuse.

Also written by: Erika K.