Effects of drug abuse on families and addiction cycles

Drug Abuse

Individuals who use drugs have difficulties defeating their addiction and often are pulled back into a reoccurring cycle. The euphoria a person experiences through the use of certain drugs causes the individual to continue their use in order to maintain their excited state. Eventually through continued use a person can develop a tolerance, which can cause increase use to substitute the effect.

Illegal Drugs

The most common illegal drugs on the market include marihuana, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. They are considered illegal due to the fact that they are acquired through illegal practices by drug dealers and sold at highly expensive rates. Due to the high cost to obtain these drugs, many addicts go to grave lengths to get their daily dose. Individuals will engage in sexual activity and even steal from family members in order to purchase these highly addicted drugs. People high on meth or heroins loose their sense of judgment and can act in a way not recognizable to their family and friends, they also tend to make irrational decisions that can haunt them forever. Increased sexual activity among addicts can lead to many sexual related diseases, such as AIDS and HIV. According to the national Drug Abuse Foundation, "Approximately one-third of AIDS cases reported in 2000 (11,635) and most cases of hepatitis C (approximately 25,000 in 2001) in the United States are associated with injection drug use."

Effects on Family

An individual's obsession with drugs can change their personality so much that they shun the people closest to them. It also creates a codependency pattern among family members, who fear losing the drug addict they shield their use from other family members.

The Emotional Affect

When a parent is abusing drugs not only are they hurting themselves, they are also hindering their child's growth emotionally and physically. Children brought up in drug filled environments have a greater chance of getting involved in the destructive cycle themselves, by simply being exposed to the acts of the parents. Children of drugs addicts also have an extreme high risk of child abuse, through the extreme mood swings of a parent engaging in constant use. Infants born to mothers who smoke and use cocaine tend to have a lower birth weight and may experience developmental problems. Research has also shown that children exposed to stressful situations have a harder time adjusting in school and are more likely to drop out.

Children born to mothers who show no interest in them or motherly love have a greater chance of developing Psychogenic Dwarfism, due to emotional deprivation. Psychogenic Dwarfism can be seen between the ages of 2 and 15 years and is seen by decreased growth hormone (GH) secretion, very short stature, weight that is inappropriate for the height, and immature skeletal age" (Munoz). Children who develop this can attempt to reverse its effects by having an injection consisted of Glucocorticoids, which help to recover hormone secretion.

Getting help

It can take a lot for someone to admit they have a problem, so it is important from the family's perspective to approach their loved one with "baby gloves." Understand where they are coming from and know that they are in a difficult situation.

The first step is to eliminate the deadly drug from the individual's life, and face the facts. If the drug is still accessible a drug addict will struggle with their demons, and may find it difficult to let go, the saying out of site out of mind is a perfect example to describe when it comes to this situation. Many drug addicts have been exposed to many different kinds of substances and the first step to any situation is wiping the slate clean.

Some addicts who are so far invested in their way of drug use may require recovery clinics, which specialize in helping drug users, quit their habit and have a normal sense of life. These clinics educate addicts on how drugs can affect their health and relationships; they also help the addict to stay on track in order to meet their goals.

Addicts are also taught new methods of coping with stress and anxiety through natural methods, such as mediation, relaxation and exercise. It is also a great way for families to introduce a new way of life together in a safe environment.