Families Affected by Drug Users

Family members often live in fear, whether is real or imagined, of how the drug user will react. They also feel guilty; thinking if only they were a better spouse, son or daughter, then maybe the person wouldn’t resort to using drugs.

Children who are raised by drug using parents often take on more responsibilities far beyond their maturity level or abilities. They tend to worry about the drug using parent, the non-using parent and other siblings. It can sometime even lead to keeping a “family secret” which no one wants to talk about. The children don’t want to even bring their friends home anymore because of the embarrassment of their drug using parent.

As a person’s drug problem progresses, using drugs becomes more important than family and family commitments. The children learn that they cannot rely on their parents. This results in the children having academic or social problems or even depression or other emotional issues. Some of these children will grow up to have drug abuse problems of their own someday.

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