Guest blog by Rebecca Muir
Most information out there about substance use disorder (SUD) usually focuses on the substance abuser and their intimate partner(s). However, SUD is a problem that the entire family must navigate, including children. So the topic of substance abuse and families is an important one.
In his book Substance Abuse and The Family, Michael D. Reiter notes that substance use “permeates the individual, family, and social systems,” and “can also be viewed as a family disease in that the addict’s behaviors have deleterious consequences on the other family members.
Families with one or more individuals struggling with addiction often adapt their familial structure and behavior dynamics to avoid “rocking the boat.” However, the reality of a family living with SUD is more like a family in a boat with a breach in the hull. Each member does their best to bail out the water to keep the boat afloat, but it is a losing battle. As Reiter notes, “[e]ventually, everyone drowns.”
Substance Abuse Effects on Family
For children of alcoholics (COAs) and children with parents battling addiction, the effects of SUD on their lives and well-being can be extreme and long-lasting. For example, Reiter says that “adolescents with substance-using parents use substances three times as often as adolescents who come from non-drug-using parents”, citing a study published in the American Journal on Addiction.
According to 2016 data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, of the 7.4 million children involved in abuse allegations, 25% percent of all child abuse victims came from adults with SUD. Most cases were classified under neglect, 17.6% were physically abused, and 9.1% were sexually abused. Additionally, Reiter notes that just being exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and witnessing the abuse of others has serious implications for children:
Witnessing IPV may be almost or as damaging emotionally to a child as being the actual victim. According to the NCADV, each year, 1 in 15 children are exposed to IPV, with 90% of these children being an eyewitness to the violence.
Children with trauma from a parent’s addiction face a myriad of behavioral, psychological, and emotional impairments. Psychological and emotional impacts of SUD in the family include depression and anxiety, conduct disorders, and personality disorders. Behavioral issues can include acting out at home and school, becoming withdrawn, and tragically, substance use by that child. Children who are sexually abused by a caregiver with SUD are at risk for sexual revictimization and adopting riskier sexual practices in adulthood.
According to the principles of attachment theory, young children may not develop positive attachments to their caregivers when addiction is present. This is due to how addiction impairs good emotional attunement with the child. This can lead to a multitude of issues in future relationships for these children when they are adults. Common issues in adulthood include codependency, or conversely, abruptly ending relationships at the first sign of conflict. It is likely that there have already been psychological ramifications for each family member from pre-recovery behavior even in families where SUD has been addressed and successfully treated.
Related Reading: Addiction Treatment and Recovery
National Impact of Substance Abuse on Families
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, between 2009 and 2014 about 1 in every 8 children (8.7 million) lived in a household with at least one parent with SUD. So it is vitally important to recognize the potential for significant adverse impacts on children and to find ways to mitigate trauma, foster healing, and bolster good mental health.
With that being said, it is important to note that not all families with an addicted member negatively impact their children. Every child has a capacity for resilience, as well as risk factors.
Related Reading: Stages of Addiction
Resiliencies such as insight, positive relationships, morality, humor, creativity, independence, and initiative can be protective factors for these children. Additional complexities such as race, economic status, gender, geographic location, family history, etc. can also play a role in being either risk or protective factors for children living in families with addiction issues.
It’s important that families not only find the right support and guidance for the addicted individual but for family members, as well. At Life Care Wellness we see Illinois clients of all ages, couples, and families. We provide a wide range of therapies to help reduce stress and anxiety, as well as treat diagnosed disorders and co-occurring disorders. We can help you or your loved one to build life skills and positive coping mechanisms, and process traumas from addictions. If you’re in Illinois and you or a loved one struggles with addiction or substance use disorder, please reach out to us via e-mail, submit the contact form, or give us a call at (630) 423-5935. If you are experiencing a life-threatening mental health emergency, please dial 911 or 988.
Rebecca is currently pursuing her MSW at Tulane University. She loves incorporating mindfulness-based strategies during therapy and encourages her clients to use them outside of sessions to help create a more peaceful, joy-filled life.
