Hall - Stimulants - The Family and Addictions

 - Stimulants -
The Family and Addictions

[Image] Retrieved from https://thedawnrehab.com/blog/family-disease-addiction/

Addictions are usually damaging for everyone involved. Even having just one family member struggling with substance abuse can impact the entire group of family and friends (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Frequently, growing up in a household with at least one parent with addiction causes the vicious cycle of addiction to continue over generations (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Unfortunately, addiction is becoming more and more common nowadays. In fact, many people can recall a memory that involves addiction. Those who were exposed to the effects of addiction at a young age know first hand how difficult it can be to grow up in that kind of environment (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Opiate addiction, psychostimulant addiction and other types of addiction are often seen as variants of the same disorder (Badiani, et al., 2011).

Families of addicts regularly deal with a ton of stress. They are constantly worried about the addict, wondering where they are or perhaps questioning if they are still alive. Long-term stress and anxiety can severely affect a person’s mental and physical health, so it is not surprising that anxiety and depression often develop among families of addicts (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Addiction has proven its potential to be a transgenerational disorder, and just one family member’s addiction can cause other addictions for the next generations - it must reach a point when someone has had enough (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

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• How the family systems is implicated in addiction:

When someone has an addiction, they have a condition that is capable of affecting and hurting their whole family. Addiction tends to cause tension, arguments, miscommunication, increased stress levels and overall negativity within a family (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

The unpredictable nature of an addicted family member can affect trust and cause emotional distress, anxiety and stress since they can't be held accountable to do what they say they will do. As trust lessens, family members feel on edge as they attempt to be aware of lies that the addict creates to justify or deny their actions. Abnormal and erratic behavior, job instability, and unknown whereabouts are all ways that addiction can damage a family’s foundation (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

The addicted person can lose focus, become forgetful or preoccupied, since their mind is focused on their addiction. Because of this, other family members might take on more responsibilities, then creating more strain and a range of negative emotions, such as anger, blame, hate, resentment and fear. All in all, these situations result in a tainted and damaged family dynamic (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

• How does the family act as enablers?

Although they have good intentions, family members who do not realize the difference between enabling and helping can end up being part of the problem. The enabler tends to be the person who is closest to the addict. Their behavior allows the addict to continue their behavior without any consequences. For example, the enabler might do more chores around the house since the addict cannot, or will not, do them, take on other responsibilities that are not actually theirs and justify the addict’s behavior. The enabler tends to be in denial about the extent of the addiction and will keep making excuses for them (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Signs of enabling behaviors from families of addicts include: denial, justification, allowing substance use, avoiding the problem, assuming responsibilities, suppressing feelings, protecting the families image, minimizing the situation, blaming, and controlling behaviors (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

• How does the family act in codependency?

Codependent relationships often occur with addicts and their family members. Over time, they develop an unhealthy dynamic that ends in anger and resentment among all those involved. More often than not, loved ones simply cannot fathom why the person will not stop taking drugs or drinking alcohol. It is typical for families of addicts to do things in an attempt to please them or fight for their attention, but those actions do not bring about desired results (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.). Codependency in marriage might look like one partner putting the needs of the addict spouse above his or her own, and the tendency to behave in overly passive and caretaking ways that harm the relationship. When a codependent partner has had enough, it can nudge the addict toward change (Samuels, 2012).

• How can families support in the recovery process?

The family is crucial to recovery because it has the most power to save a loved one between the emotional connection and the ability to set boundaries in a loving way, although it takes time (Samuels, 2012). Family members can help addicts by not tolerating harmful behaviors. Identifying and changing enabling behaviors can help their loved one recover from addiction. Families are viewed as important stakeholders who can both aid in the process of change and benefit from improvement of the addiction problem (Copello & Orford, 2002). Here are some other steps that families can take to help:

• Setting boundaries – Family members must set clear boundaries to reduce stress and end drug-seeking behaviors.
• Do not make excuses – Making excuses for an addict only encourages them to continue.
• Try addiction family therapy models – Family therapy for substance abuse can help addicts deal with their feelings surrounding addiction, address any underlying issues, and teaches them that they are not their disease.
• Go to support groups – Family involvement in substance abuse treatment can give family members a place to share their concerns and learn more about addiction. Trusted programs (such as AA and NA) can help families of addicts by allowing them to listen and share with others. It also helps to learn from the experiences of others who are facing similar problems.
• Completely committing to family involvement in substance abuse treatment – Addiction therapy is a lifelong commitment for the addict and their family. Families must commit to addiction family therapy models with their loved one to learn how to communicate and interact in healthy ways.
  (The Dawn Rehab, n.d.).

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References

Badiani, A., Belin, D., Epstein, D., Calu, D., & Shaham, Y. (2011). Opiate versus psychostimulant addiction: the differences do matter. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(11), 685–700. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3104

Copello, A., & Orford, J. (2002). Addiction and the family: is it time for services to take notice of the evidence? Addiction, 97(11), 1361–1363. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00259.x

Samuels, H. (2012, March). Family: The First Step: Addiction is a family disease; it requires a family solution. Psychology Today, 45(2), 26–27.

The Dawn Rehab. (n.d.). Family Roles in Addiction: How the Whole Family Plays a Part in the Continuation of Addiction. Retrieved from https://thedawnrehab.com/blog/family-disease-addiction/