1. Negativism: If everything between family members is “negative,” if everything comes from complaints, criticism, and other points of anger or resentment, then you see the initial warning signs of drug abuse.
2. Parental Inconsistency and Denial: Inconsistency in parenting is simply chaotic use of rule setting, where there is no enforcement of the rules and the family structure is weak. Denial is a different animal, where the parent refuses to believe their young son or daughter has a drug problem.
3. Anger Problems: You might think anger is in the same line as negativity, but here we’re talking about repressed anger, the mental and emotional states where children and teens cannot cope so they use drugs.
4. Self Medicating: Often drug addicts are trying to escape something in their life, a memory or moment they are ashamed of, or something perhaps they simply obsess about. If a parent or child is using drugs to cope with something, this is classic self medicating.
5. Unrealistic Parental Expectations: Lastly, parenting is perhaps that one science you can never completely master. If you had bad parents, you’re supposed to be a bad parent. If you’re an alcoholic, you must be a bad parent. When it comes to raising children, placing too high of expectations on them, or too low, can be damaging and lead to drug abuse. For instance, your son gets a job and you say it doesn’t suit them and they will fail. Surprisingly, children cope with this in many ways, not always with drugs. But for substance abusers, drugs are always an options.

Solutions on Interaction come from many sources. The best solution is to go to the opposite of these things, but even that can be somewhat problematic. Sometimes one person is “codependent” on the other, where they expect everything from them. It works out as one person trying to control the other, denying their own feelings, and having low self-esteem. In social terms, it used to be the husband or wife having a drinking problem and the spouse being the codependent, stuck with a substance abuser. In modern times, it applies to family dynamics in many ways, namely those with behavior or psychological problems.

Yes, drug abuse does effect everyone. However, many books in the past decade have pointed out both positive and negative effects of drug abuse on children of drug abusers, and even spouses. How does that work? Actually, negative consequences are far more common, but in the hearts and minds of children is the capacity to see good in the bad, to survive. After all, no one has had the perfect life! Drug abuse and addiction … does … affect everyone within society, within the family, and within major systems which fight the war on drugs. It comes not from a doctor or counselor, but from someone who experienced drug addiction for many years. There is a road to recovery and a lot of lives have been spared through the help of 12 step programs, family, friends and doctors.