Mar 4, 2015 | By Tim Powers

The Effects Addiction Has On Family Members

Family Resources for Addiction

how addiction effects the family members

Addiction is a complex and progressive disease that slowly robs the addict of their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. While the devastating effects of addiction on the addict is well-documented, it only paints half the overall picture. In order to fully grasp the overall effects of an individual’s addiction, you also need to take into account the effects of addiction on family members. The actions and behaviors of a loved one who is addicted to drugs and alcohol has significant impacts on their family and causes severe dysfunction both in the ways they cope with the addict in the family as well as how family members interact with one another.

Families Who Deal With Addiction: The Emotional Tug-of-War

When families try to cope with a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse, they experience a strong internal tug-of-war that can strain the strongest bonds. On one hand, the family understands their loved one is not intentionally trying to hurt them and want to provide the addict with love, encouragement and support. On the other hand, the lies, manipulation and abuse that the addict throws at them on a daily basis causes great pain and that pain is directed towards the addict and towards each other. When families try to wrestle with these opposing emotions, the whole family unit suffers and may cause emotional damage that possibly will never heal without the help of counseling and therapy.

The Common Emotions Families Feel towards a Loved One Who is Addicted to Substances

One common effect of addiction on family members is the phenomenon of enabling. The definition of enabling are the behaviors a family exhibits in an attempt to help their loved one out of tough situations. While a family may feel that helping their loved one pay their rent or utilities or covering for them when they act inappropriately is the right thing to do, these behaviors allow the addict to continue their destructive lifestyle. Family members will often engage in enabling behaviors because they may feel guilty about a loved one’s addiction and they somehow feel responsible and want to make things right.

Another common effect of addiction on family members are feelings of hurt, anger and resentment. While enabling behaviors are well-intentioned, some family members will eventually see the underlying motives of their addicted loved ones and can grow to resent them for using them or those family members who do not see what they see. This is especially true when an addict lies or steals from the family. These rifts can still remain even after the addict enters treatment and has substantial clean time.

The Ways Addiction Impacts the Family Unit

As the family attempts to cope with the addiction within the family, cracks begin to appear within the family unit itself. A third and often forgotten effect of addiction on family is the relationships between family members. The following are some common examples of the family problems that can arise when a loved one is addicted to drugs and alcohol:

Jealousy

With the attention focused on the loved one who is addicted to drugs and alcohol, there may be members of the family (and especially younger family members) who may feel jealous that the addicted person is getting the spotlight. This can cause resentments among family members.

Money Issues

Families can experience significant money issues in regards to helping their loved one with their mortgage, rent, utilities, groceries and other necessities that have been neglected due to drug and alcohol use. The continued enabling of the addict financially can cause family members to make poor financial choices, which causes more tension between family members.

Emotional Trauma

With the strain in trying to deal with and cope with a loved one who is addicted to substances, family members may lash out at each other and they may engage in the same behaviors that the addict is engaging in such as manipulation, lying and stealing.

Health Problems

The guilt that is associated with addiction can be all-consuming for family members. With the attention and focus on their needs, the basic and emotional needs of the family are often neglected. As a result, family members can experience the onset of anxiety and depression as well as physical ailments due to the lack of proper nutrition, exercise and poor hygiene.

The Role of Family Addiction Counseling in Restoring Balance and Harmony

The connections that exist between family and addiction are multifaceted, and in order for the addict to fully and completely recover from addiction, the whole family must be involved in the drug treatment process. Addiction is seen as a family disease and family-based therapy provides the resources and support that is needed for the entire family unit to address the underlying causes of addiction and restore balance and harmony.

Family addiction counseling and family therapy benefits the addict and their family and helps them find their common strengths and find ways to live without drug and alcohol addiction. Both the family and the addict will also understand the entire process of recovery, from medical detoxification and drug treatment to aftercare and continued support through the help of 12-Step based groups such as AA, NA, and Alanon. If there have been past links between family and alcoholism and drug abuse, those can be addressed and those underlying causes can be worked through so that the family can experience the same fresh start as the addict.

Most importantly, involving the family in the drug treatment process allows them to fully express their needs and wants in a safe environment. With the encouragement and support they receive, the family feels empowered to effectively communicate with those who are addicted and understand their individual roles in the recovery process. As a result, the entire family is able to heal and grow together and create an environment which is based on healthy interaction, communication and understanding of each family member.

11 responses to “The Effects Addiction Has On Family Members

  • Check out SMART Recovery Family & Friends, a science-based, secular alternative to Al-Anon and Johnson Intervention based on CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training).

    SMART Recovery Family & Friends helps those who are affected by the substance abuse, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, or other addictions of a loved one.

  • Dilemma?
    The Al-Anon book The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage seems to me to be but a false dilemma. Isn’t the true dilemma marriage itself whoever to? Hasn’t marriage always been a dilemma? Isn’t it still so? Won’t it always be so? As far as I am concerned, it seems to have little if anything to do with an alcoholic, male or female. The Al-Anon membership is 85% female, mostly white of Christian heritage and middle class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Anon/Alateen). Can someone answer that question-dilemma-enigma? Will AFG ever solve the marriage dilemma?

  • my son is addicted to methamphetamine and I don’t know what to do he’s been in and out of jail for under the influence he’s on probation he’s abusive he’s endangering himself he cut his arm he hit his head up against the wall the microwave he wants to fight everybody he thinks everybody’s against him he thinks everybody’s watching him its getting terrible he’s already been in a drug program but for one month that was the program he needs help he is suicidal I think he has a mental problem he talks about death and I’m his father is dead he talks about him is nece is dead he talks about her he sings funny stuff I don’t understand what’s going on with him he’s really really getting badI believe his probation officer really doesn’t care about him he came out of jail 2 weeks ago he went down there the first day did not see the salvation officer privation offer sir has not called him back how guess they don’t care what’s going to happen with him next I went to the probation officer four times he was never there I spoke with other people and they said that its not their problem.

    • Sarah if you have facebook, there is a group on there called herion support. Its a really good group to join. They deal with all kinds of addiction. its a group for addicts and friends and family members.

    • stephanie

      8 years ago

      I hope your son has gotten major help. My husband was addicted to just about everything and he finally lost his battle on October 5,2015. He had his last binge on Meth and after being awake 4 nights with no sleep he committed suicide. He had tried this many times before all while tweaking from Meth. We got his toxicology report back and his level of methamphetamine was 3x’s a normal limit. Prayers for your son, you, and your family.

    • As do I! This is one of the best articles for family members I have read.

  • Tina Gustafson

    9 years ago

    To Sarah:
    Please seek out help and support for yourself. You will need it to get through this battle. There is a closed group call TAM. The Addicts Mom. Look for it on FB and join. It was a lifesaver for me when I was drowning in my sons addiction. It can provide support, advise, and education.

  • Nicola Davies

    9 years ago

    For Sarah,

    I’m sorry to hear about your son. My sister is a heroin addict so I understand your pain and frustration. I would not rely on any government agency (probation officer etc) to help you. They are close to barely competent themselves at their jobs they are over worked, under staffed and frankly even if not I don’t think they can help people with addiction. The best advice I can give from my own experience with a heroin addict little sister is do not enable them, do not treat them like a baby, do not give them money at all ever or you may potentially be financing their death. The only think I give my sister is rides to rehab/detox, money to the DR (not her) for suboxones, or food. If you havent already I HIGHLY recommend looking into IBOGAINE.

  • hi my name is Tim a former addict, I hate to break this to you but unless someone really wants to become clean and sober it is not going to happen they need a reason to get themselves clean they may say and do things to make everyone think they want it but until they are honest about theyre addiction they will not get clean I have been clean for five years well since march of 2010 and only when i found something i wanted more that my preferred drug of choice which was any opiate i could get well until then and being honest and open with myself and my loved one then i could and did get clean every doctor i see cannot believe i have beaten my addiction i have other medical problems that would easily keep me on opiates for ever but I chose soberness over numbness please try and give your loved ones a reason to get cclean find theyre reason to get clean or it wont happen they will lie cheat steal whatever they can to get high so be patient but stern

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