How Addiction Affects Family and Friends

Regarding addiction, many people only consider the physical and mental effects to those with the disease. They may not recognize how addiction affects family and friends. However, these individuals also suffer great hardships when loved ones have an addiction.

Top Problems That Result From How Addiction Affects Family and Friends

All families are different, so the dynamics vary as well. Because of that, how substance use disorder affects them is diverse. However, friends and family also face challenges when they have to deal with loved ones who have an addiction. Take a look at the problems that strain these relationships and require family therapy.

Financial Issues and Isolation

The cost of using alcohol and drugs gets worse as people build a tolerance to these substances. Everyone who relies on them may experience financial trouble. For instance, drug users could steal valuable belongings or money to pay for their drugs. This behavior causes distrust and resentment between the loved ones.

Also, the adverse effects of the drugs could prevent some individuals from performing their jobs. In some cases, they don’t show up for work. Their careers could go down the drain. When this happens, their families may suffer from a lack of food, electricity, heat, or even somewhere to live.

In addition, addiction causes psychological effects that make people want to withdraw from society. They often stop going to social functions altogether. Before they know it, they stop supporting family members, friends, and even coworkers. On the other hand, they could embarrass loved ones on occasions when they do attend social events.

Isolation can cause more financial problems because they stop networking and communicating with peers. Then, they miss out on promotion opportunities, which creates a financial strain on those who depend on them.

Patterns of Enabling and Codependency

Enabling and codependency are other problems resulting from how addiction affects family and friends. It’s important to recognize these issues so that they can get help.

Enabling behaviors are those that allow people with addiction to continue abusing drugs. In short, their family members and friends protect them from the consequences of their actions. Most of the time, the enablers think that they’re helping, but they’re only making the situation worse.

Codependency is very common in relationships that involve enabling behaviors. It consists of the loved ones relying on those with addiction for emotional or psychological support. They get their sense of self-worth by taking care of people with addiction. These are issues that only individual and family counseling for both parties can work out.

Get Help for Alcohol or Drug Addiction

Do you or a loved one need treatment for substance use disorder? You can get family counseling at Beaches Recovery. Our facility treats a range of addictions and offers several programs such as:

• Alcohol and drug detox
• Women’s drug addiction rehab
• Men’s drug addiction rehab
• Residential and outpatient programs
• Sober living

Put an end to the damage that addiction has caused in your relationships. Get treatment for yourself, or talk to your loved one about getting help. Call Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532 to learn more about how addiction affects family and friends.