Use and abuse of drugs have affected many families, and yours might not be exempted. Dealing with those caught in the drug web can be challenging, often throwing unique dynamics into the family as members cope differently. Happily, there are healthy ways of coping you can learn as you go.
1. Understand that the Drug is the Surface Issue
Granted, a first drink or smoke might be encouraged by mere curiosity, but continued use may indicate more complex issues. Some underlying issues could be undiagnosed or untreated mental disorders and identity crises that lead one to experiment with different things.
Sometimes, this may be due to a need for a sense of belonging among their drug-addicted peers. In other cases, the pressure and failure to cope with life stressors healthily, chronic pain, and so on may lead someone down the addiction territory.
According to Payerally, projected spending in the U.S. on specialty medication in 2020 was over $500 billion. It’s, therefore, essential to focus on drug use and investigate what else could be happening. This can only be achieved by extending empathy and listening to what your child’s concerns are.
2. Their Choices Aren’t Your Responsibility
If your child is an adult, accept that they’re self-governing and’ll make their choices with or without your input. Watching a child you love choose a self-destructive path can be extremely difficult, but there’s only so much you can do, especially if they insist on going down that way. You can lessen your load by acknowledging that their choices are not a reflection of you, and that they’ve their life to live, and so do you.
3. Establish Healthy Boundaries
The most essential part of maintaining your sanity while providing an environment for your child to seek the help they need is to maintain your individualism. Boundaries liberate you from false responsibilities while similarly protecting you from the abuse and manipulation of drug users, which they often inflict on family members to get their way.
If your child still lives under your roof, continue to demand that they pull their weight and contribute to the family. According to Jobber Academy, 80% of households will use cleaning services by 2024. Exempting your child from house chores and responsibilities only fuels their entitlement, making them more irresponsible.
4. Do Your Research
Find out where you can get the help and support you and your other family members need, like Al-Anon meetings near you. Similarly, find places where your child can get the help and support they need, like AA or NA meetings and outpatient and residential treatment facilities.
Also, learn about the effects of the drugs your child may be using. This will not only help you understand the severity of the addiction but also help you explain to them just how serious a problem they’re in, such as the drug’s effect on their physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral well-being.
All drugs, if taken in large doses, can cause serious harm, but an overdose of some, especially opioids, like heroin, can cause death. According to LA Valley Recovery, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine; hence you need to know what to do in an extreme case.
5. Observe the Progression of Use
There may be little you can do to control how much and often your child uses drugs, but the progressive nature of addiction may require making treatment choices for them. Your child may use drugs recreationally and still manage to function generally. However, it can reach a point where they aren’t functional, a time when it becomes addictive.
When they reach this stage, they’re likely to be categorized under the spectrum of persons with mental disorders. They’ll no longer be considered capable of consenting to treatment. Here, you will have to sign, on their behalf, a consent form for involuntary admission or treatment.
Don’t give up on your child, no matter how bad the drug addiction gets. Others have overcome this dangerous habit and are thriving today, and you could be the only hope your child has for kicking the habit.
Leave a Reply