Substance abuse is a major concern to people of all ages in the United States; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published an article in 2017 explaining the various effects of parental addiction that also impacts children and other family members, such as:
- Failing to pay the bills
- Being unable to control substance use
- Violence in the home
- Missed responsibilities
- Parental neglect
- And more
Parental substance abuse significantly affects children of all ages, with adult children also reporting significant effects years later from their parents’ substance use. Several studies have shown that children battle making friends, succeeding in school and maintaining healthy self-esteem when their parent struggles with substance use concerns.
Last year, Very Well Mind, a website that publishes information related to a variety of mental health conditions, explained that families can break up because of substance abuse – and when that happens, children are often left to grow up much earlier than anticipated. Neglectful parenting could mean that some children begin taking care of siblings at a very young age or even becoming involved in illegal activity in efforts to make money to pay the bills. Some children are exposed to harsh environments where drugs are used, which increases their risks for accidentally consuming drugs or even experiencing an overdose from them; and if help isn’t sought by the parent, risks may only worsen.
If you are a parent battling substance abuse, speak with a professional from Cumberland Heights today. The only way that the family – and your life – can get better, is to seek treatment and begin your journey to recovery. It’s a long road, but it’s worth the effort – and your loved ones will be thankful that you seek the help you need.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of two 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers, and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first. For more information, call 1-800-646-9998 today.
