Effects of Parental Substance Abuse to Children

The physical, psychological, and spiritual effects of drug addiction are devastating. Drug addicts will spare no expense in keeping their substance abuse going because it brings them back into a state of euphoria–even if it is at the cost of not being able to see those they love anymore. 

The consequences of parental substance abuse can be severe for children, especially those who live with parents that are addicted. 

For these kids, they may experience emotional neglect or even physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their loved ones in an attempt to find comfort from their pain. 

The effects of parental drug addiction can be devastating on children in a physical sense, as well as mentally and emotionally.  The article further explores these detrimental consequences for their young lives.

How Does It Affect The Children?

The effects of addiction on children go far beyond the user. Kids who grow up in homes where there is drug use often suffer from emotional and psychological problems that will affect them throughout their lives, even if they do not take drugs themselves.

Children are often in the position of being “the adult” when their parents’ drug use becomes rampant. It can lead them to miss out on key developmental experiences that children should go through. And could stick with these kids for life-long damage, such as stress or depression.

The Tolls They Take

The effects of substance abuse on children are not only mental, physical, and emotional but can also hinder their development in all stages.

But let’s delve into how it affects them deeply:

• Physical Toll

Many physical effects can arise from parental addiction during pregnancy. If the mother drinks or does drugs while pregnant, there is an increased risk for defects. Such as growth stunting and organ malformation to occur in their child’s life. 

It ranges from birth defect prevention measures, up to severe mental disorders. Like attachment disorder (not being able to form social relationships) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Pregnant women are often ashamed of their dependence on things like doctors and hospitals. But this should not stop them from seeking proper prenatal care. 

The shame can be used as motivation for this mom-to-be to get adequate checkups with professionals who will help start their child’s life well into adulthood.

Parents who are addicted to drugs sometimes forget the needs of their children. It can lead to them not taking good care or providing basic optical/dental services such as brushing teeth when needed because all attention is focused on getting high instead.

The effects of addiction on children can be devastating. They may develop anxiety-based illnesses due to their parent’s drug abuse, such as ulcers or asthma that become severely debilitating if left untreated.

When parents get intoxicated, they can lose touch with their moral compass and step beyond appropriate. 

They might lash out in anger or sadness due to being overwhelmed by emotions. Sometimes these drinks are just one thing that causes people who are not used to alcohol to become addicted.

From a young age, children are exposed to an array of scars that can last for the rest of their lives. They witness violence and come into contact with it themselves. 

Some may even develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and due in part to being caught up within this maelstrom where they feel like there is no way out.

Children struggling with emotional or physical abuse often feel alone and abandoned. They may lash out at themselves to find some sense of love, which can lead to self-harming behaviors if not treated properly by a doctor.

• Mental Toll

Children who grow up with parents that suffer from substance addiction often find themselves dealing with a myriad of problems. 

The family affected by this condition will have many characteristics to it. Such as chaos and insecurity in communication between members or unclear rules for what is expected out-of-the-home environment.

These children are more likely to fail classes, be truant, or be expelled. If a woman chooses to smoke throughout pregnancy, there is an increased risk of mental deficiency in her child. 

These children may also have behavior problems and fail classes due to their mother’s habits during this period.

When children live in a household with little or no consequences for their parents’ actions, they may act out to get any attention. 

As rules are rarely enforced, and supervision is lax at home? Kids will be more likely to engage in questionable activities without the knowledge of what this could lead towards later on.

For many children, parenting is an emotional rollercoaster. When you have a parent who abuses substances, it can make things even more difficult as they are modeling dangerous behaviors for your child. 

And teens may think that drugs or alcohol should be used to cope with stress just like their parents do to not feel guilty about hurting someone else while under pressure themselves.

If a parent is an addict, their children are at a much higher risk of becoming addicts themselves. 

It can be seen in the number of girls who date or marry people with substance abuse problems and happen more often than not because these kids’ sense of self-worth has been skewed away from them due to mistreatment.

• Emotional Toll

When parents are preoccupied with their own needs, they miss out on the emotional pain of raising children. It can lead to a whole host of problems, from lack of trust in others and self-confidence all the way up to feeling ashamed about what your family looks like.

When a child is deprived of their emotional needs met early on, they can start to feel disconnected from everyone around them. It impacts how well an individual functions in day-to-day life and all future relationships with others, including parents or spouses.

Babies communicate in a limited way, typically by crying. If you can’t pick up on their cues and provide the care that they need to be happy, then these patterns will follow them into adulthood.

How children are raised will have a significant impact on the type of adult they become. With little care or love from parents, those who grow up without this type of nurturing often develop trust issues and a fear of abandonment that can lead to depression later down the line.

When children grow up and become adults, they may feel as if it is their responsibility to take care of their parents. 

It can be stressful for teenagers who believe that they must keep the family running despite any difficulties faced with aging or illness on behalf of the parent’s generation before them.

Liven The Lives of Children

We know how important family and children are if you are ready to get help for your addiction but don’t want it at the expense of straining relationships with loved ones. 

Sober coach services in Florida offer information on a wide variety of drug rehabilitation centers that can accommodate everyone’s needs without causing any harm or damage.

Look for the best sober companion services today to get you started on the right path.