Effects on Child/Family
Substance abuse doesn't only affect the abuser, and the effects are not only physical.
Sometimes the worst damage done by substance abuse is on relationships rather than on the body. Whether the abuser is an adult or a child, substance abuse affects the entire family, with an average of four other people being affected by the abuser's actions.
Tensions may build. Relationships may be strained. Lives may be ruined.
Eroded trust may never be rebuilt. Broken hearts may never be mended.
Parents often feel guilt, responsibility and/or fear when they learn that their child has an addiction.
In the abuser's eyes, another family member might even be the "cause" of their problem.
Unknowingly, the actions of other family members might be contributing to the abuse - either by covering up for the abuser or by diverting attention away from the abuser.
This is why it is important for families of abusers to participate in their loved one's treatment, either through family counseling sessions or by meeting with a therapist of their own.
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