Families and the impact of Substance abuse/

DependenceFamily Systems

Angela Hahn

November 26, 2013

Summary

• In this power point I will explore the affect that substance abuse and dependency have on family and friends of the addict. In the end I will conclude with some steps of action to try to avoid this behavior from happening to future generations. This presentation is for anyone going through an addiction, their family, and friends.

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Terms to know Substance use- the inappropriate consumption of medicines, drugs, or other materials including

prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, street drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Substance Abuse- maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a 12-month period:

Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.

Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g., driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use)

Recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., arrests for substance-related disorderly conduct Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems

caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g., arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights)

Dependence- A psychological craving for, habituation to, abuse of, or physiologic reliance on a chemical substance.

Enabler- A person who by their actions make it easier for an addict to continue their self-destructive behavior by criticizing or rescuing.

Codependency- A relationship where one or both parties enable the other to act in certain maladaptive ways.

Facts

• Substance abuse was a factor in 50% of child abuse and neglect cases

• Children whose parents abuse substances are 3 times more likely to be victims of abuse and 4 times more likely to be neglected than other children. (CASA 1999)

Drug and alcohol use in teens Wisconsin vs. United States

 ALCOHOL-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Grades 9-12), 2011  SA1

Percent of high school students who drank alcohol for the first time before age 13 years (other than a few sips)

Wisconsin United States

Total 19% 20%

Male 21% 23%

Female 16% 17%

Continued

Percent of high school students who had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row within a couple of hours on at least one day (during the 30 days before the survey)

Wisconsin United States

Total 24% 22%

Male 26% 24%

Female 21% 20%

Continued

 MARIJUANA USE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Grades 9-12), 2011  SA1

Percent of high school students who ever used marijuana one or more times (during their life)

Wisconsin United States

Total 37% 40%

Male 40% 42%

Female 34% 37%

Continued

Percent of adolescents ages 12-17 who needed but did not receive treatment for illicit drug use (during the 12 months before the survey)

Wisconsin United States

Total 5% 4%

Why the numbers above are as high as they are

• Many children who experiment with drugs come from parents who do drugs

• Parents are not willing to help when they themselves need help

• Parents do not believe the child has a problem

• Some parents do drugs and drink with their children

• Notice the number of children in Wisconsin that need help and are not getting it is higher than the average in the united states.

Family Problems in dependency

Substance abuse does not only cause problems for the user, it affects other family members as well. Jealousy: You may become jelous of your partner, friends, or other family members.

Conflict with Partner: You may put drugs or alcohol before your partner. This may cause arguments.

Conflict with Children: Your children may be afraid of you or not take you seriously.

Conflict over Money: You may struggle economically, you may lose your job, or spend all the money you have on drugs. Emotional Trauma: You may create emotional hardships for your partner and/or your children by yelling, talking down, insulting or

manipulating.

Family problems in Dependency Cont.

• • Violence: You may become violent or your family members may become violent with you, including slapping, hitting or smashing or throwing objects.

• • Cheating: You may become distant from your partner, seeking satisfaction through someone or something else.

• • Separation: Your behavior due to addiction may lead to separation This can be divorce, family choosing not to be around you, or the loss of a child, because they are taken away or they do not want to spend time with you.

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• • Health Risks: Drinking while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome – being under the influence can lead to child abuse or neglect. (B. LAMENAM 2013)

Signs of an enabler

Do you do whatever you can to avoid conflict?

Do you give the addict a chance, then another, and one more?

Do you think the addict is just going to stop on their own? Just a phase.

Do you have a hard time talking about how you feel?

Do you help pay the addicts bills, bail them out of jail, or financially support their habit.

How to Avoid enabling

Do not financially help the addict at all. If you give them money for bills they will probably use it to support their habit.

Do not let them live with you, they will think their actions are ok.

Express how you feel and what their behavior does to others.

They sometimes need to hit rock bottom before they can move up.

Steps to take in helping families with addiction

• Educate yourself about the addiction the family member is going through. This way you can better understand what they are going through, and ways to deal with it.

• Look out for organizations such as Al-Anon, Alateen and Nar-Anon which offer 12 Step programs for the families and friends of alcoholics and addicts. They offer support for dealing with the addict and sharing with people in similar situations to you will quickly help you to understand the realities of addiction and recovery. These programs will also help you to recover from the emotional effects of a relationship with an active addict

• Look into detox or rehab centers. •Many drug addicts have other conditions – such as an undiagnosed mental health problem – that contributes to their addiction, so finding a detox center or hospital that can address all aspects of health for your loved one can make the difference between temporary and permanent recovery

• Stage a intervention with addict, close friends, and family.

In closing

• Addiction is a disease that affects the whole family in many different aspects. If you or someone you know has a problem it is important for you as well as well as them to receive treatment or therapy. In most cases it’s harder for the families to go through the addiction than the addict. In their state of mind they may not be as aware of what is going on around them as you are.