Family Substance Abuse
Substance abuse could become an addiction when the continued use of a substance becomes compulsive and interferes with the users ordinary responsibilities. It does not only affect those who are addicted, but it affects all the members of the family unit. One out of four families will experience problems related to the effects of substance abuse (Mordey, 2012). Substance abuse is a family disease that is capable of disrupting family life, causing negative effects that can last for a lifetime. The negative impact that substance abuse has on the American family usually includes cases of domestic violence, abused children and decreased emotional health. Presentation of Data: The first negative impact that substance abuse can have on
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Drug abuse can cause an addict to become violent and physically or emotionally abuse the child or sexually abuse them and cause damage that will stay with the child for the rest of their lives (Nichols, 2015). Another negative effect that drug addiction can cause is serious emotional damage for the child (Nichols, 2015). The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) reports that 35.6 million children in the United States under the age of eighteen lives in a home where a parent drinks or uses illicit drugs (CASA, 2009). Studies show that nearly eighty percent of all child abuse and neglect cases are a result of the parent being involved with drugs or alcohol (CASA, 2009). Many children of addicts can suffer from long-term emotional or psychological damage that causes serious effects on their mental health (Nichols, 2015). These children tend to be diagnosed with behavioral problems, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression (CASA, 2009). Children to lose respect for the parent who is abusing substances as they are no longer able to properly take care of the child (Nichols, 2015). The home may be lacking in any kind of structure and rules, causing the child to turn to abusing substances in order to escape from the pain of their reality (Nichols, 2015). Children of substance abusers have four times greater risk of developing an alcohol or drug problems than children of non-users (CASA, 2009). Substance abuse not only has a negative effect on the individual family member, but it can affect the family as a
Drug abuse can cause an addict to become violent and physically or emotionally abuse the child or sexually abuse them and cause damage that will stay with the child for the rest of their lives (Nichols, 2015). Another negative effect that drug addiction can cause is serious emotional damage for the child (Nichols, 2015). The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) reports that 35.6 million children in the United States under the age of eighteen lives in a home where a parent drinks or uses illicit drugs (CASA, 2009). Studies show that nearly eighty percent of all child abuse and neglect cases are a result of the parent being involved with drugs or alcohol (CASA, 2009). Many children of addicts can suffer from long-term emotional or psychological damage that causes serious effects on their mental health (Nichols, 2015). These children tend to be diagnosed with behavioral problems, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression (CASA, 2009). Children to lose respect for the parent who is abusing substances as they are no longer able to properly take care of the child (Nichols, 2015). The home may be lacking in any kind of structure and rules, causing the child to turn to abusing substances in order to escape from the pain of their reality (Nichols, 2015). Children of substance abusers have four times greater risk of developing an alcohol or drug problems than children of non-users (CASA, 2009). Substance abuse not only has a negative effect on the individual family member, but it can affect the family as a