Addiction is not just a personal problem. Instead, it becomes one that affects whole families. In some cases, it may tear families apart and leave them traumatized for years. Therefore, it is essential to know how addiction affects families. At Memphis Recovery Centers, we have years of experience treating this problem and can help you regain a stable and happy family again. The family therapy program rebuilds family trust and brings your family together again.
Drugs Transform a Person
When a person develops an addiction,they often changein ways that surprise their family. For example, they may alienate themselves from family members who don’t use drugs. They may also start committing crimes or behaving in ways that seem out of character. Just a few ways that a person may begin changing with addiction include:
- Stealing money from loved ones to pay for drugs
- Losing jobs due to drug-related issues
- Experiencing legal troubles due to drug problems
- Becoming angry and defensive about drug use
- Angrily lashing out, often physically, at others for no reason
There’s a saying that this type of behavior is “the drug talking” and not the person. However, that doesn’t make this situation any more comfortable. So when learning how addiction affects families, it is essential to know that the behaviors occur. Doing so can help a person better understand how drug abuse is tearing their family apart and what they can do to change this problem.
How Addiction Affects Families
Addiction has a way of spreading toaffect whole families. For example, a person who abuses heroin may borrow money from their mother to buy drugs. Or they may try to get other family members to use drugs and alienate or upset them. How addiction affects families can includeissues likealienation and the destruction offamily trust. That trust, once lost, is often hard to get back. This problem may have lingering after-effects for a family.
As a result, many families may alienate drug-abusing members to protect themselves. Some members of the family may not approve of this approach and react angrily. Fights, resentment, and much more can all become a regular daily occurrence for a family trying to manage an addiction. These problems can quickly get out of control without the help ofdrug rehab programs at Memphis Recovery Centers.
Ways Rehab Can Help
If you’re worried about how addiction affects families and need help regaining your sobriety, rehab is critical. Drug rehabilitation programs give you the best chance of beating addiction. They also help you reconnect with your family to create a stronger recovery support group. A typical rehab program goes through several steps, including:
- Medical drug detox – Regain a stable and healthy body free of drugs
- Individual therapy – Learn how drugs affect your behavior
- Family therapy – Sit down with your family to rebuild your connections
- Behavior adjustments – Master coping mechanisms that help you stay sober
- Aftercare treatment – Focus on your sobriety long after you leave treatment
This multi-step substance abuse treatment program helps to address every element of an addiction. Just as importantly, it integrates family care into the process. In this way, a person can heal with their family. And their family members can see their dedication to sobriety in real-life terms. By working together, they can defeat addiction and grow closer as a family once again.
Help Is Available for You
So, how does addiction affect families? It has the potential to tear them apart forever. Thankfully, drug rehab can mend those bonds and bring families closer together. So if you and your family are suffering, please contact us at Memphis Recovery Centers to learn more. Our rehab center includes many substance abuse treatments, adult and youth programs, family therapy, outpatient care, art and music therapy, and much more. So please verify your insurance and then call 901-272-7751 to get started on the path to sobriety.
