How Substance Abuse Affects the Family

At some point, addicted people will expose their behavior and make it clear something is amiss. Rightfully, we all have great concern for the addicted individual whose life is crumbling around them. What we don’t talk much about is the collateral damage an individual’s substance addiction creates around them. To be fair, we need to spend just as much time looking at how substance abuse affects the family. The damage is real and only gets worse if we refuse to see it.

How Substance Abuse Affects the Family

Most of us have close relationships with family and friends. These relationships are a big part of our everyday lives. When things go awry, people all around us feel the impact. That’s especially true for people who have family members dealing with the cycle of addiction. Here are some of the ways addiction can wreak havoc on the family relationship:

• Lost relationships – One of the hallmarks of addiction is that it causes the addict to withdrawal into isolation. Sometimes, this withdrawal will damage the bond between family members
• Creates Enablers – To be supportive, some family members become enablers. Enabling quickly turns into co-dependency, which is almost as unhealthy as addiction
• Victimization – Addicts will steal from family members to support their habit. This kind of victimization digs deeply into family relationships
• Physical and emotional abuse – In the worst cases, addicts can become abusive towards the people close to them. This kind of damage is threatening to a family member’s welfare
• Instability within the entire family unit – one person’s addiction can turn a whole family upside down as infighting and choosing sides ensues

Healing the Family Unit

As we contemplate how substance abuse affects the family, we have to focus on solutions. For the addict, there’s so much hanging in the balance because recovery often depends on the support of loved ones. That’s where family therapy has the opportunity to make a huge difference.

The essence of family counseling is to bring family members together for open and honest communication. The goal is to reconnect loved ones and teach them how to support one another under challenging circumstances.

Top Care at Beaches Recovery

At Beaches Recovery, we thrive on the opportunity to help addicts and bring families back together. We do this with custom addiction treatment programs that address the patient’s core issues. Our addiction treatment services include:

• Detox at the Tides Edge facility
• Gender and age-specific treatment programs
• Inpatient drug rehab program
• Outpatient drug rehab program
• Family counseling services
• Aftercare programs

As you contemplate how substance abuse affects the family, you need to know there’s help available to deal with such problems. For more information on getting help for your loved one and your family, you can call Beaches Recovery for help. The number for our Jacksonville, Florida facility is 866.605.0532. Now is the time to make a difference in your loved one’s life.