Children have only been around since the beginning, and therefore children are more apt to adapt than we give them credit for. When they become teens, they want to be known as adults. When they become adults, they are apt to remember rebellious attitudes with laughter. Since children are so adapting, they can handle plenty. There are some odd positive effects on the child from an abusing parent. This isn’t a defense of the substance abuser, but just to shed light on a rarely discussed issue.
Children of substance abusers—whether it’s alcohol or illegal drugs—are able to handle extreme stress, disruption, and change. However, there is also the danger of the child taking on too much. For a substance abusing mother to put a load on a daughter to help with another child rarely turns out well. It’s important for each adult to take their place within the family, serving as the first role models and the first line of defense against substance abuse.