A family member will usually contact Tabor Group about a loved one’s addiction when they are at a crisis point and the situation has gotten out of control. They often do not know where to turn or how to get help, which can be an extremely daunting, challenging, and stressful time for any family including children. With it being International Day of Families on Sunday, in this blog, we have decided to focus on the impact addiction has on children and families, which sometimes can be hidden.
ADDICTION
The term addiction refers to the consistent need to engage in a particular activity, despite the harmful effects on the individual’s life. This pattern of behaviour can involve the misuse or overuse of a substance, often stemming from the need for a mood-altering experience. Addiction is not limited to substance abuse; it can include a dependency on gambling too. Signs of dependency can include changes in personality, changes in daily routines, an unusual need for money and continuing use of the substance despite its negative impacts. Alcohol and drug use occur at different levels, and not everyone who uses substances are addicted, however when these signs of dependency start to show it can be classified as an addiction.THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN
When substance abuse occurs, the person suffering from addiction may become tired, agitated, upset or impulsive. However, addiction does not only affect the individual. Their loved ones, friends, and family also bare the burden of grief and worry. Children of all ages hurt when a parent or family member is suffering from addiction. Adolescence in particular, is a period which is crucial in terms of shaping an individual’s understanding of the wider world. What we experience in childhood and adolescence can have a lifelong affect, not only on our beliefs about ourselves, but also our beliefs about others. It is during our youth that we learn rules to protect our self-belief and to avoid vulnerability, in doing this we may develop dysfunctional behaviours that can have a long-lasting impact into adulthood. When a parent is suffering from addiction, they may become absent from the home and absent from their role as a carer. An individual suffering from addiction can go through a cycle of three states, the first being “Preoccupation”, where the individual is craving the substance, time and money are mere obstacles in the way of acquiring the substance. The next stage is “Under the influence”, where the individual is not in control of themselves or their situation. The final stage of the cycle is “Withdrawal”, where the individual is suffering from both physical and psychological pain. When the individual moves through this cycle, their capacity to care for children is significantly reduced. As a parent you are responsible for your child’s wellbeing, however, while suffering from addiction a parent may not be able to meet their child’s basic needs. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the child’s rights to be compromised while in the care on an individual suffering from addiction. This can result in neglect, or role reversal where the child becomes the primary carer for themselves and the parent.Every child has the right:
- To be safe
- To be protected and live violence free
- To be brought up by their parents in their family (unless it is not in their best interest)
- To express their views
- To have decisions made for them in their best interests
- To be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness
- To be free from discrimination, bullying and harassment of any kind.
