Posts Tagged parent drug abuse

When Someone You Love Uses Drugs

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on March 7th, 2010

Discovering that one of our loved ones — parents, siblings, partners, children — is using drugs can be a very dramatic experience for those involved. It changes not only the life of the user, but also of the family member and close friends. Although it can be a very trying experience, it is important that we learn about the many indications of drug abuse and how to deal with them accordingly. Here are some reminders on what to do when a loved one is using drugs:

help drug abusersDo not forget about yourself. Finding out that a loved one is using drugs can tend to be a very stressful experience. Sometimes, it comes to a point where you forget your own needs. It is important that you also take care of yourself. Make sure to get the necessary support from people you trust.

Do not blame yourself. In all likelihood, drug abuse is never an indication of something you did wrong. Do not convince yourself that it is a consequence of negligence on your part. You are in a position where you can help, so don’t get caught up with blame and be a part of the solution.

Do not keep quiet. Don’t be afraid to voice out your concerns and to offer help. It is absolutely imperative that you act as soon as possible. The sooner you can get your loved one professional help, the smoother his recovery process would be. Sometimes, all that a user needs is somebody to dialogue with.

Do not pretend as if everything is okay. Drug addiction is a serious case and should not be taken lightly. It is important that you recognize the seriousness of the situation without having to panic or make rash decisions.

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What Happens to Kids of Parents Facing Drug Abuse?

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Raising Healthy Kids on January 26th, 2010

It’s difficult being a parent during a time when things like sex, violence and drugs are just around the corner. Most of us would want to raise our kids right, hoping that they can get through virtually unscathed. Of course, some of us don’t always have the means to do so, and all we can do is to hope for the best for our children. But what if the roles were reversed? What if the parents were the ones who needed help with a drug problem? What would happen then?

drug addiction in the familyThis poses a big problem for both the individual and his children. As if the phenomenon of drug addiction wasn’t bad enough to deal with, the offspring would have to suffer the effects as well. Children generally look up to their parents as their role models in life. They tend to emulate the actions of those older than them, and parents have a considerable amount of influence.  In this case, they will subconsciously believe that it’s okay for them to do drugs since their parents are actually doing it.

This situation can also put a considerable strain on the social life of the children. After all, no one likes to be called the child of a drug addict. This stereotyping by the child’s peers can do great harm to his/her self-esteem, and chances are that they will find it excruciatingly difficult to gain confidence about their own potentials and abilities.

If you are a parent, always think of your children – will the pleasure from drugs really worth losing the love and respect of your children?

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