Drug Effects in Families

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The Effects of Drugs on Families Studies have shown that an overwhelming majority of about 75% of high school students have used an addictive substance. Everyone is something to someone, whether it be a mother, brother, child, aunt, or cousin; either knowingly or not, drug use and it's affects can be seen in your family at some time. Some effects are subtle and imperceptible, while others can be overtaking and ruthless. Drug use affects families in many ways; it can have a psychological effect on each family member, affect the overall dynamics of the family, or even lead to a spread of drug use throughout the family. The psychological affect on family members of the drug user is tremendous. When a child is using drugs, parents begin to feel increased levels of anger, guilt, shame and stress which they blame on the child. While when a spouse is the user, their significant other begins to feel an overwhelming sense of obligation and responsibility. As a child or young adult with a drug abusing parent, feelings of responsibility arise as the child begins to assume the parent role and a sense of abandonment sets in. Overall, the general feelings of family members and loved ones tend to feel a mix of anger, sadness, anxiety, shame, loss, and social obligation. Family dynamics are the way a family lives and interacts with one another. When a family member uses drugs, it affects the rest of the family in various phases and ways. At first, members of the family may begin to limit contact with the user, then decide to either let the problem solve itself or strive to resolve it as a family, without the use of rehabilitation centers, then eventually the user becomes the focus of the entire family. Drug use affects the way a family lives because it can possibly cause significant financial instability and the user may become unreliable, get fired, or even go to the extent
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