1. Introduction
Definition of drug abuse Drug abuse is the continued use of a substance, despite the physical, mental, emotional, and social problems it causes. The popular misconception is that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. Drugs of abuse There are many different drugs in use today, both legal and illegal. Legal drugs include alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications. Alcohol has the distinction of being the most widely abused legal drug. Many illegal drugs today are made from chemicals and are research compounds that mimic the effects of other drugs and are known as synthetic drugs. An example is synthetic marijuana, which has been known to cause serious health problems and in some cases even death. Some illegal drugs such as cannabis, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and other naturally grown drugs can be considered to have both therapeutic value and a potential for abuse. Finally, there are drugs that people abuse to achieve a mental benefit such as increased concentration or heightened performance at work or school. This kind of drug abuse can stem from a lack of knowledge regarding the drug and its effects, as well as increased stress levels in today's rapidly changing world. Using drugs can cost a lot of money because they are expensive and because repeated use can cause legal problems resulting in fines and reparations of damages. These factors have caused a significant correlation between drug abuse and low-income families, with many estimating that the yearly cost of a drug habit can be as much as a year's salary for a lower-income family. This often leads to a situation in which the drug abuser will spend money on drugs instead of supporting their family and sideline themselves from society.
1.1 Definition of Drug Abuse
Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is a disorder that is characterized by a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problems or distress. Whether a particular substance should be classified as a drug of abuse depends upon its effects on the individual and on society. The following are the general attributes of drugs that are abused. An abusable drug is a chemical compound that alters the individual's state of body or mind. The modifications in state may be for the better (as in the case with medication) or for the worse. The individual likes the change and desires to continue it, known as a positive reinforcer. This may be different from the initial reason for taking the drug, which may be for purposes of experiencing the effects (to get high), to relieve an unwanted condition (as in the case with tranquilizers), or simple curiosity. The drug is then taken in an excessive amount. Duration of the taken state depends on the particular drug and the dosage but must be long enough to be distinguished from legitimate medication. The situation is again different with drugs like marijuana where taking more of the drug is a method of sustaining the same state, known as a cumulative positive reinforcer. Propagation to use of the drug and maintenance of the abusive pattern is facilitated by the effects of both the drug and the changes it induces in the neurochemistry of the individual. This is because the initial positive reinforcer is learned about via drug-induced state and is subject to classical conditioning. An abuser who starting taking drugs to alleviate pain or anxiety may start to do so excessively and in the case of psychological disturbance may become unable to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate drug use. This is due to the fact that any kind of reinforcer sets up an operant chain so that it can be experienced again. Stage of the drug use will depend on the individual and the drug. Some individuals may start to abuse a drug from its first administration while others need time to move from legitimate use. Some drugs have a quick route to an abusive pattern and are often referred to as "hard drugs". Duration of the abusive pattern is indefinite but must be long enough to allow detection and should the drug be legal there is potential damage to law-abiding identity and a feeling of guilt. Abusive duration on an individual abuse occasion may be short but this can be repeated over many occasions. Coming to an end is the drug abuse cessation often as it began and in some cases abusers will instead go on to abuse different drugs. Deducing the difference between the abuser and a former abuser takes time and relies on statistical data of the pattern to make generalizations.
1.2 Impact on Families
Drug abuse doesn't only affect the individual, but also can have far-reaching consequences that affect family, personal health, employment, finances, and society. It is impossible to predict the impact that abuse will have on families, in general, and it is particularly difficult to predict how a specific family will be affected. Some of the problems that occur within families where there is drug abuse are: One general problem is the breakdown of communication. The National Association for Children of Alcoholics found that in a survey of 1000 adults who grew up with an alcoholic parent, over half cited lack of open communication in their families. Clear communication is important in all families but a breakdown in effective communication can be especially damaging for substance-abusing families because miscommunication can lead to many other problems and it can make resolving any of the problems the family is affected by even more difficult.
2. Effects of Drug Abuse on Families
In a survey, one third of drug abusers admitted that their habit caused distress to their family. This is substantial when considering that family forms an integral part of the relatives' support network. A family comprising of parents and two children where one parent is a drug user will often have detrimental effects on the development of the children. Generally, it is the non-using parent who is left to cope with the abuser and take responsibility for the success or failure of the treatment. Young children of drug abusers often have to cope with chaotic and unpredictable home environments, which occasionally expose them to abuse and neglect. Studies suggest that many children 'parentify' and take on the role of the abusers so that their natural parent will take on the 'child' role. Many children of abusers experience physical and mental abuse, causing PTSD, anxiety, and depression. They have also been shown to have a higher risk of developing their own drug dependencies as they do not receive the care and supervision required to perform well in school or form healthy peer relationships. As mentioned, one huge emotional consequence for children is often the loss of a parent in the sense of the abuser becoming incarcerated or the children being taken into foster care. Grim estimates suggest that over five million children live in households of drug abusers who have already lost their parental rights. These children have an increased likelihood of poor physical and mental health, compromised learning, social and behavioral problems, and continuing the cycle of violence and substance misuse. By assessing their negative childhood life events, parental depression, and the quality of their home environment, researchers found that these children have a higher chance of having poor life outcomes as compared to low-income urban children.
2.1 Emotional Consequences
This aspect particularly will have a negative effect on children. The emotional state of the family as a whole will significantly affect the child and may further affect the child's behaviour. This will have an overall negative effect on the family as the child may act as a reminder to the user of their negative past, which will further induce stress. The user will resort to putting the family issues and conflicts to one side and will turn to their drug of choice as a method of escaping. This will cause further emotional strain on the family as the user will not effectively deal with the conflicts in a logical manner, and the family will feel as if the user does not care for them. The user will suffer from feelings of guilt and further attempt to ease the pain by taking more drugs. This cycle will only increase the emotional strain on the user and their family. An increase in aggressive behaviour from the user will lead to further emotional strain, with more potential for violent behaviour in the family setting. The constant stress on the family will lead to a negative and hostile family setting. The emotional consequences of drug abuse in the family will have negative effects on the user and the family as a whole, with a lasting effect.
2.2 Financial Strain
The impact of drug use in families is generally ambiguous. When a parent uses drugs, the entire family may be affected. His or her propensity to work and keep up sound social associations might be compromised. A fixation on purchasing drugs may take cash far from the rest of the family. In addition, drugs can result in legitimate issues in the client's life, which can suggest cash issues for whatever is left of the family. If a relative has an issue with drugs, it can prompt an emergency circ*mstance for each person in the family. Numerous families have a solid feeling of disgrace and denial when a relative is mishandling drugs. The disgrace and falsehood connected with drug misuse derails the issue-confronting procedure for the family, which means the individual and aggregate anxiety of the emergency proceeds with any expectations of determination turning into a reality sooner or later. This in itself is a budgetary and enthusiastic channel on the family. Any expectation of disposing of a medication issue is distant, and the family winds up caught undermining its own particular potential as every part attempts to adapt to the confusing behavior surrounding them. A relative slipping into medication reliance frequently climbs in his or her checkered quest for wellbeing and satisfaction, and through various endeavors which fizzle, to getting to be connected with a particular and numerous times unlawful way of survival to continue securing drugs. The neglected outcomes of unseemly occupation lead and the high unemployment rate for drug abusers frequently interpret into a poor and non-reimbursing money related venture with respect to training and recovery endeavors. Again this is a monetary speculation which did not legitimize the cost to the family. The false avoidance of a medication issue and the rehashed frustration experienced because of different endeavors to determine it can wreak devastation on kids and youths. Any work put forward by youngsters is frequently yielded because of requirement for quick monetary commitment to family survival and potentially the abuse of pay with expectations of curing the issue. A parent's discovery of drug misuse for a youngster can be destroying and counterproductive. Any individual investment funds for training might be stolen and lost without a clue, any different stores may be touched to give quick money related backing to a wellbeing which from the start might look beneficial, however is normally maintained by further drug misuse. With expanded drug use as a rule comes expanded restorative issues for the client. In nations which don't have free social insurance, the personal satisfaction can be undermined as social protection or protection monies are annihilated. Government subsidizing for drug recovery is rare and most accessible projects are long in span holding up periods for public acceptance. The choice for private consideration is excessively costly for generally crews.
2.3 Breakdown of Relationships
Relationships may be the most affected aspect of a family's life when drug abuse is present. Trust between partners is often the first to be broken. One member may start to hide the drug use from the other. Trust may be broken when money starts to go missing and no explanation can be given. This is the start of the breakdown of the family unit, which is often not repaired. Relationships between parents and their children are also damaged. Parents who are drug users tend to be more lenient on their children, and discipline is often nonexistent. If a child is used to seeing their parents drink to excess or use drugs, they are more likely to copy this behavior. In single-parent families, the situation can be even worse. The parent may be too out of it to even look after the child or may start to become abusive towards the child. The child may be taken into care as a result of abuse or neglect. There are a few ways in which relationships within the family can be repaired. Family therapy sessions can help to get to the root of the problems and allow each family member to have their say on their feelings. The therapist can help to work out the best way to support the drug user and get the family unit back on track. Sometimes the best way to avoid temptation is to remove the user from the family situation, whether it be a spell in rehab or staying with a relative or friend. This time apart can show the user what they are missing and can be the motivation to keep clean. In certain situations, it may be best for the user to cut ties with the family altogether. If the user is unwilling to give up drugs, this may be the best way to avoid dragging the family further down.
3. Coping Strategies for Families
If you are struggling to cope with a family member's drug problem, it would be beneficial for you to look for a group in your community such as Nar Anon or Al Anon. These are groups of people who are in the same situation as you are. Through the support of others who know exactly what you are going through, you may find it easier to cope with the stress of your family member's drug misuse and begin to feel more hopeful about the future. It is not uncommon for family members of drug users to experience feelings of anger, guilt, or depression. Talking with people who are in the same situation will help you deal with the feelings in a positive way. Support groups may also aid you in altering your perspective on the situation. This doesn't mean that you accept the drug use, it means that you learn to be less bothered by it, less likely to get into useless arguments, and less likely to engage in behaviour that inadvertently supports the drug user's habit. You may change yourself or your reactions whether or not the drug user changes, and that in turn may prompt the user to change too. Setting boundaries is an important coping strategy for family members of drug users. It is crucial that you do not protect the drug user from the negative effects of his/her drug use. This means not bailing him/her out of jail, not calling in sick to work for the person when he/she is hung over, and not making excuses for his/her behaviour. Although you should make it clear that you do not approve of the drug use, it is important to separate the behaviour from the person. Let the person know that while you do not like what he/she is doing, you still care about him/her. In order to protect yourself and other family members, you may need to ask the drug user to leave your home or to restrict his/her visits. This can be difficult to do, but keep in mind that it may be the turning point for the user to seek help.
3.1 Seeking Support
It is important to remember that it is not the fault of the family member that their loved one is abusing drugs. They need not feel guilt; they are not responsible for the behavior of the addict, and they cannot control it. They can only control their reactions to it. It is okay to feel helpless, but with time and through education and support, they will be able to help the addict without enabling their behavior. There are numerous coping strategies for families, directives to assist in preventing the addicts' problems from becoming their own. One of the most important strategies they can engage in is seeking support. This can include finding a support group such as Nar-Anon, which is a 12-step program designed for relatives and friends of addicts. Support groups allow family members to share experiences with others going through the same thing and work toward a healthier way of helping the addict without harming themselves. Therapy is also a good option if the family is all willing and able to attend. Family therapy can help to address issues within the family that may have contributed to the family member's drug problem, and the therapist may refer the patient to individual therapy as well. This is likely to be more effective if the addict is willing to seek treatment. Individual therapy for family members provides an opportunity to learn more about addiction and how to best help their loved one, in addition to allowing them to work through their feelings and emotions. An alternative to therapy might be seeking help from an elder or clergy member, who can provide support and advice in keeping with the family's spiritual traditions. This can prove to be especially beneficial if religion is important to the family or the addict.
3.2 Establishing Boundaries
Establishing boundaries within the family unit is crucial, especially when considering the changes in behavior of a drug addict. It's important for family members to sit down and discuss among themselves what is and what is not acceptable behavior on the part of the addict, and what the consequences will be if the boundaries are crossed. Boundaries should be clear and consistent; if fear, guilt or anger causes rules and boundaries to shift from day to day, it will be impossible for the addict to know when they are acting unacceptably. It can be useful to set these boundaries out in a contract form, and each family member and the addict signs it with a clear understanding of the consequences of breaking them. An example of a boundary might be "We will not tolerate you taking drugs or drinking alcohol in the house. If you do so, you will be asked to leave and not return until the following day." Family members will also have to establish personal boundaries which may sometimes include separation from the addict. It is a difficult decision to make but sometimes necessary. The addict must understand that the boundaries are made out of love and concern, not anger and that it is always possible for them to earn back privileges if they decide to seek help to stop their drug use. Boundaries are not set in place to punish the addict but rather to protect the family from the effects of the addiction. Earning back privileges when an addict has changed their ways can be a great catalyst in aiding their recovery.
3.3 Encouraging Treatment
Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use. Treatment can occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for different lengths of time. Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a short-term one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring. There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to treating addiction. Drug treatment programs can include behavioral therapy (such as counseling, cognitive therapy, or psychotherapy), medications, or a combination of them. The specific type of treatment or combination of treatments will vary depending on the patient's individual needs and, often, on the types of drugs they use. When an addict is suffering physical, mental, legal, or financial problems, they may benefit from hospital-based care. The acute care facility will focus on medical stabilization and assessment. The care is shorter term, usually only a few weeks. Mental health issues and criminal justice involvement often accompany drug addiction. People suffering from these conditions should have treatment for all of their disorders and should be assessed and treated within the belief that addiction treatment will help enhance outcomes for other disorders.
