Question

Substance Use Disorders not only affect the individual user but also the family. Describe and Discuss how SUD/addiction affects the family. (ANSWER ALL THREE PARTS)

Discuss roles and functions within the family

How addictions affects these functions

Then once the individual has found recovery how the family may need to again readjust to the functions.

Answer 1

The family remains the primary source of attachment nurturing and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore the impact of substance use disorders(SUD) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardships, legal problem emotional distress and sometimes violence perpetrated against him or her. Does treating only the individual with the active disease of addiction is limited in effectiveness. Treating the individual without family involvement may limit the effectiveness of treatment for two main reasons: it ignores the devastating impact of SUD on the family system, living family members and treatment and it does not recognise the family as a potential system of support for change .

It is estimated that more than 8 million children younger than age 18 live with at least one adult who has a SUD that is a rate of more than one in ten children. The studies of families with SUD rever patterns that significantly influence child development and the likelihood that a child will struggle with emotional behaviour or substance use problems. The negative impact of parental SUDs on the family includes destruction of attachment rituals, role potential, communication, social life and Finance. Families in which they raise parental SUD are characterized by an environment of secrecy, loss of conflict violence or abuse, emotional chaos, role reversal and fear.

Relationships are communication conduits that connect family members to each other. The primary relationship of an infant birth is with the mother, so the relationship forms a subsystem within the larger family system. The way in which the primary caretaker responds to these cues will establish the quality of attachment. A parent with SUD who is Mood altered preoccupied with getting high or spending a significant amount of time recovering from the effects of substances may miss the opportunity to foster healthy attachment. Eye contact, tone, volume and rhythm of voice soothing and touch and the ability to read the needs of the Infant or all intricate building blocks of attachment..

Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of SUDs. The impact will vary depending on the role and gender that the individual with the SUD has in the family. for example if an adolescent child is identified as having this will affect the family differently that if a parent has an SUD. The attitudes and beliefs that family members have about SUD are also of importance as this will influence the individuals as they try to get sober and will influence the efficacy of treatment interventions. For example if a parent sees SUD as a moral failing and thinks his or her adolescent child should just use willpower to quit this will be important to know if the treating therapist is working from a disease model of addiction. When family members have appropriate education and treatment for themselves they can play a significant role in the abuses recognition of the problem and acceptance of treatment.

Effects of SUDs on the family:

1. Emotional burden, family members may feel anger frustration anxiety fear worry depression shame and guilt or embarrassment.
2. Economic burden, money spent on substances or the loss of jobs or Reliance on public assistance may cause an economic burden.
3. Relationship distress or dissatisfaction, families may experience high rates of tension and conflict related to the rescue and the problems it causes in the family.
4. Family instability, this may result from abuse or violence. Family breakup may occur because of separation diversity for removal of children from the home by children and youth service.
5. Effects on parents, mothers with a few days may show less sensitivity and emotional availability to infants. parents of a child with a s you may feel guilty, helpless frustrated angry or depressed.

Substance use disorders are associated with many social and family problems. these problems create challenges for the individual with SUD who is in treatment or recovery, the family and Society. There are many effective intervention treatments and mutual support programs to help individuals with estuaries and families address these issues.

Family can help their loved one in several ways such as facilitating the involvement of the individual with sqd in treatment, attending sessions together to address the SUD and recovery needs; engaging in ongoing discussions about recovery and about what can and cannot help the member with the acid,Identifying early warning signs of relapse that their loved ones main ignore and help the individual with the sqd stabilize from a relapse should one occur. families can also help themselves by discussing their experiences with the member with the estuary, examining their own behaviour and emotional reactions and dealing with their own reactions. This can be accomplished by the families being involved in treatment, mutual support programs or other programs. Family members enter treatment and mutual support programs initially to help their loved one however they often discover that they need emotional support and help themselves because a few days can have many effects on them.