People who are struggling with addiction are not the only ones to be negatively affected by this disease. Their substance abuse can have both short-term and long-term negative impacts on the lives of everyone who loves them, and especially those who share a home with them.

Someone who has an addiction problem is rarely suffering alone. An addict is a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a daughter, or a son, and their whole family unit will suffer with them.

Let’s learn about how addiction affects families.

1. Addiction often leads to broken promises and loss of trust

How does addiction affect families? In many different ways. From financial struggles to strained relationships, this disease can turn the lives of family members upside down. An addiction treatment center aims to help in such situations.

First, the fact that addiction often leads to broken promises and loss of trust can’t be ignored.

Even when an addict means well, their addiction can make it difficult or impossible for them to honour their promises and their commitments. In turn, their family members feel they simply can’t trust them anymore.

Plus, a child growing up with an addicted parent who can’t keep a promise will have a hard time learning how to trust people. That’s why seeking help from addiction treatment centres is crucial for the wellbeing of the individual and the family.

2. Family members might deal with financial struggles

An addict needs money to feed their addiction. And their addiction might make it difficult for them to keep a job and earn a regular salary.

An addict might then use up all their savings to buy the substance they are addicted to, meaning that they could have difficulties providing necessities for their family.

Or they might beg their parents to provide them with money, food, and shelter or even to pay their bail if they ever get in trouble.

3. The parents of an addict feel powerless and constantly worried

On top of constantly being asked for money, the parents of an addict can be affected in different ways.

They can feel powerless and unable to properly help and support their child. They can feel worried about their health and safety and might even enable their addicted child or make excuses for them and the issues they create.

Parents can also blame themselves for the struggles of their children and think that they might be responsible for their addiction.

4. Other family members might turn to substance abuse

Addiction is not a contagious disease, but the family members of someone who struggles with addiction might be more likely to also develop an addiction.

A child living with an addicted parent might feel like abusing drugs, or alcohol is something normal to do and might start using these substances as they grow up. Either to have fun or to cope with the pain they feel because of their parent’s addiction.

Similarly, the siblings of an addict can also turn to substance abuse to try to escape their family’s difficult situation.

5. The siblings of an addict can feel confused and invisible

The siblings of an addict will sometimes follow the same path, either as a way to try to numb the pain they feel or as a way to draw their parents’ attention.

Others will refuse to turn to addiction because they see how negatively their family is being affected by their sibling’s behaviour.

But whether they turn to substance abuse or not, the siblings of an addict can feel confusion, shame, resentment, and anger. They can also feel invisible since their parents might focus on trying to help their addicted child and forget about the needs of their other children.

6. Family members are at a higher risk of being abused

How else does addiction affect families? Unfortunately, the family members of an addict have a higher risk of becoming victims of abuse, whether this abuse is emotional, physical, or sexual.

This happens because addicts often have unpredictable and irrational behaviour. Their loved ones are likely to be afraid and confused when they are around them, and even a simple disagreement could trigger a violent reaction.

7. The children of an addict grow up in an unpredictable environment

An addicted parent might be unable to meet the basic needs of their children and provide them with consistent emotional and physical support.

The children of an addict will grow up in an unpredictable and potentially dangerous environment, which will negatively impact their development.

And if they have no other family member to turn to for support, they might end up feeling like they are the ones who should be responsible for helping their addicted parent.

8. Addiction can sever ties and break families

Having to deal with the negative impacts of being around an addict will take a toll on family members. Some might eventually decide to cut their ties with their addicted loved ones and push them away.

Addiction tears families apart, which is one of the many reasons why someone who struggles with this disease should seek treatment before it’s too late.