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Parents Using Drugs: No Super Heroes

admin — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:35:37 +0000

The “super heroes” line of the title comes from the basic fact that parenting children or teens is often about showing yourself as a good role model, doing the right things. However; there is also the innate fact that so many parents do abuse drugs. Some fathers will try to be “super heroes,” being the perfect fathers to their children while the wife is abusing some drug. Or a mother may be the “super hero,” trying to make right the relationship between a substance abusing father. Lastly, single parent households, whether it’s the father or mother raising the child or teen, offer a whole list of problems when that sole parent is actively using.

The Children:

One major study from cited by HelpGuides.com offered many different cases for children reacting to parental drug abuse. For example, sometimes children act far ahead of their age in trying to help the addicted parent: they become almost “surrogate spouses” for the father or mother. This is incredibly dangerous in the growth of the child. Often there is no hope for the child, who keeps it entirely secret and asks no one else for help, save the other parent. This becomes dangerous and mentally problematic. In later years, the child is more prone to abusing drugs themselves, even dropping out of school. Children need to be able to act their age, learning as they go with help from parents. Children acting themselves as “super heroes,” trying to help their own parents, should be seen as a major warning sign for child development.

The Teens:

Teens with drug addicted parents come in many forms, but are often prone to mental problems during this stage. Depression may hit them sooner, and reacting to it they may try drugs like marijuana or do underage drinking. Like children, teens will often go through stages of denial and anxiety over their father or mother abusing drugs. The real answer here is to catch the problem early, while at this stage the relationships between the teen and parent may become dangerous. Teens are still not adults, and still shouldn’t be forced to handle such problems and expect to come out of sound in mind.

Using Resources

admin — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:57:39 +0000

There are countless resources online which can help with the impact of substance abuse on families. There is also a growing body of literature on substance abuse in all its forms. Lastly, there are support groups for families battling these diseases. Personal interaction with other struggling parents and addicts gives you power, and going to support groups like Al-Anon, a support group for those affected by alcoholics, and other meetings like Narcotics Anonymous can make this disease more real. Families often feel helpless, especially if the addict is out of the house. Sometimes going directly for professional help is the answer.

Parents Needing Help

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:17:23 +0000

The parents need to beat this drug, of course! This isn’t meant to say quitting will be easy, or is the only necessary step. But quitting drugs is the first step and this step should be taken under the care of an addictionologist. A lot of regular doctors do not have the background skills to successfully treat alcoholics and addicts. Quitting is not easy, but with professional help it can make the process much easier. If you don’t try to quit for yourself, then at least try for your children. Remember that they are the ones suffering just as much as you are from this disease. In the long run you will have to ultimately want to stop for yourself, but any reason in the beginning is good enough. The old saying “Fake it until you make it” is really true in a lot of cases. Another thing to remember is not to “Think to much”. An addicts mind is a dangerous place in the beginning because of the strong obsession to use again and denial. Denial and substitution will be problematic for the parent trying to beat any drug. For instance, instead of smoking marijuana on a daily basis, a father or mother will resort to drinking more alcohol. They will deny having any problem, and then substitute one bad drug for another. This can be even more dangerous, as coming off any drug without some form of support outside the family is crucial.

The road back to reality does begin with the parent realizing the problem often isn’t a moral deficiency. Drug addiction can often be called a mental and physical disease, where you make one small mistake and it becomes a life damaging event. There is always hope for the children, and what children or teens grow up in perfect households? The fact is that in modern society drug abuse within any family is bound to occur. The answer is to ask for help.

Remember, the emotional damage to sons and daughters within the family cannot always be repaired, which makes both parents working together more important. There are meetings to help people with substance abuse problems, along with those who love the drug addict. Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12 step program of beating alcohol and drug abuse has meetings everywhere. Most people are shocked when they realize how many meetings are within their community. Meetings are held in local Churches and there are also some great club houses.

Friends and family should encourage an addicted person to attend these meetings. The support that is given freely by the members of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is amazing. The program absolutely works and nothing else compares to it.