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Drug abuse and substance abuse have been a long problem for everyone. They have caused severe effects on the lives of both children and their parents. Children who grew up in a home associated with substance abuse will have a higher risk of using drugs and alcohol in the future. It may also lead to generations of alcohol and drug addiction within the family. There are currently millions of cases that children suffer the most when it comes to the adverse effects of the said harmful habit.
Reports and Studies
There are research studies which show that children whose parents have issues regarding misuse of drugs and alcoholism are three times more susceptible to emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. They are also more likely to be victims of bullying. It is due to the unusual behaviors that the children display when they are away from home, and the awful experiences regarding their parents are the reason behind it, leaving these children mentally and physically scarred throughout their life.
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What It Does
Some cases show a considerable effect of behavioral problems due to parental substance addiction. Drugs and alcohol create a long-term negative impact on a person that damages his brain functionality. A study was initiated to observe the lives of selected youths under the age of 25 whose parents had drug and alcohol issues, and it showed immense disappointing results. The effects of drug and alcohol abuse were mostly similar. However, drug abuse had higher ratings for bringing anxiety and shame. Alcohol, on the other hand, had more substantial results regarding domestic violence and parental neglect.
The drug and alcohol problem of their parents caused significant difficulties in most of the selected youths. The majority felt that their parents were unable to sustain the growth of their emotional needs. Most of the chosen kids also felt the need to become responsible in an earlier phase of life despite their young age. It shortens their childhood by a significant margin due to the ever-growing relationship problems of their parents. They put notable importance in informal relationships and use them as a source of support, which, most of the time, are unreliable and conditional.
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Most of the youth have parents with relationship issues and married life dilemmas. Some have parents that are already divorced. The selected children have a lot in common regarding their goals and dreams in the future including owning a house, having a good job, being involved in a loving relationship, and having an ideal family of their own far from what they experienced.
On The Bright Side
In a positive sense, the selected youth have shown considerable adaptability and resilience on how to unravel their problems despite the painful circumstances. Their experiences somehow gave them the advantage of overcoming the toughest challenges in their lives. Not all children who struggle with parents with substance abuse end up a failure. Some of them use their early maturity to make the corresponding right decision that changes their life in the long run.
After reading this article, we hope that parents who have problems (such as mentioned above) try to ask for help and counseling. It will not only benefit the relationship between you and your spouse, but it will also give you a chance to encourage your children to have a fully functional developmental growth.