Family impacts of parental substance abuse according to Columbia University research

Drug Abuse

The findings of National Center at Columbia University on Addiction and Substance Abuse are that the entire American children population resides with an adult or parent who uses illegal drugs or is involved in heavy consumption of alcohol. When one of the family members is involved in drug abuse, their families always tend to be ruined and might even have harsh consequences on members of the household, particularly children.

Family issues on drug abuse

Divorce

Addiction and Substance abuse National Center indicates that drug abuse facilitates the possibilities of divorce. Even if it does not reach the extent of divorce, it affects the quality of marriage. This is well evidenced in men who usually have lower quality relationships with their spouses as compared to non-alcoholic men. Moreover, alcoholic males are known for having low sexual function as compared to non-alcoholic males (Natalie Grace, 2012).

Psychologically effected Children

There are many factors that can influence how much a child is affected by drug abuse of their parents. This could be: how old the child was when the parents began drug abuse; how serious the drug abuse is; how able the parent is in performing her duties as a parent in a healthy manner; personality of the child as well as how he is isolated from his friends and the community. When there is inconsistency in rules and discipline in addition to conflict within the home, it is capable of causing much stress to the child, worsening the destructive effects substance abuse. Conflicts that are experienced by a child in homes belonging to substance abusers always affect a child; arguments and shouting marked by poor communication, leading to unstable home for the child Who may reflect the same characteristics later on in life.

Emotional Ramifications

An addict can have immense emotional ramifications, which may result in insecurity that permeates every aspects of the addict's life. Facade of the addict to the society always indicates a self-confidence and even reassures individuals, though inside, addicts is often in the battle of depression and worthlessness. The more this addict sinks into his addiction, the higher he encounters pronounced emotional highs and lows that finally leads to self-hatred.

Family Dissolution

The result of being addicted to drugs tends to be detrimental and long lasting to the members of that family. Even though the addict has his personal problem to resolve, this addiction establishes co-dependency in the spouse and the children. Always, the spouse will try to deny the presence of addiction and seeks to have control on the actions of the addict. The children will have to assume roles that they should not take since there is dysfunction within the family. When there is lack of trust, it can create a barrier that could be an impasse for the continuation of the family unit.

Financial Despair

Addiction has a huge impact on the finance of a person. Based on the addict drug of choice, the financial ramification may turn to be radical and overwhelming, especial when one is addicted to some types of drugs like cocaine. Stocks plus the saving tend to vanish as time goes and it continues to any other liquid assets or disposable income as these items are sold in a bid to finance the heavy purchase of drugs. The outcome is that bills will not be paid, daily expenses will be stressful. Losing their jobs is inevitable as this sign and symptoms will be seen openly, (eHow Contributor, 2012).

Health Decline

When this addiction goes on for along time, it will be accompanied by health issues. Since sleep cycle of the addict will be disrupted, it leads to weaker immune system, paving way for respiration viruses, (Rahul Pandita 2012). Failures of oral hygiene results to gum disease, tooth decay and even periodontal disease. Finally, it may cause shutting down of vital organs and possibly death.

Isolation

Being addicted makes an individual to be always in life of lies and cover-ups. They will at all times try to convince their loved ones that drug addiction does not exist, and establishes self-centered world. When the family as well as friends do not accept the drug addiction, their world remains to be on them as individual and the only friend becomes his drugs.

Resources available

Nar-Anon

This is opened to every person who happened to suffer through drug addiction. Usually it is a support group meant for family members as well as friends of the addict, applying a12-step program for assisting members with this desperation plus assisting the addicts into recovery. They offer free meetings and they have their online information.

Families Anonymous

It is meant for providing support for the family members and friends who are hurt by the actions from the addicted persons. They have established meetings in most of the places around the world. They as well provide online meetings for the people who cannot get access to their places of meetings. When in the meeting they share stories about their experiences with the addicts learning ways of helping and handling their addicted family members or friends. These members work together in helping their members at difficult times as they use a 12-step method, (Adam Johnson, 2012).

Co-dependents Anonymous

This helps members to develop a healthy relationship with one another. The group tries to assist in identifying patterns of co-dependency and come up with a solution to establishing a better support structures in relationships. Not only to the addicts, unhealthy co-dependent relationships is capable of encouraging individuals to begin or maintain other addiction as a means of coping with their relationships.

Conclusion

More initiatives should be put in place to help families and the drug abusers so that the families can know more about ways of handling the drug abusers and even the drug abusers can receive help, since they are people who need a lot of attention and rehabilitation. The efforts cannot be individual initiatives but should come from the government and the community at large.