As I was reading an article on substance abuse on family members, it never occurred to me how devasting this can be on a family. I always heard what family members go through and always responded with a "Sorry to hear that" or "I understand." I don't understand unless you have walked a mile in someone's shoes.
I realized that family members go through alot of feelings such as concern, hope, anger, embarrasement, and frustration. Why do substance abusers put their families through so much? Many family members get to the point where they have to lie and make excuses about a loved one who is abusing drugs. Protecting the family image is important especially, when you look at a family as being perfect or a family you wish you had. To me, that's too much work. Again, I never had to face these challenges, but know people who do.
Sometimes family members may split one members against the other. One might believe he/she and trust them saying they are no longer abusing drugs while the other may not believe what is being told to them. Who should the family members really be mad at?
Now, another question is can an abuser really recover from their addiction? I don't know. Everyone relapses once in their lives, but I think if they are in an environment where substance is around, No! I don't think there will be a good chance. Will an abuses always be an abuser?
All in all, this disease or addiction can go for years unless there is some kind of family intervention in place. "We often focus on the treatment of the patient, but can forget the importance of treating family members involved with the addiction patient."
I really like your closing statement about utilizing the family for intervention rather than focusing exclusivity on the individual struggling with addiction. I agree with the point, and feel strongly that in the same way that the individual behavior disrupts the family system, so does the behavior of the family effect the individual and their opportunity to successively attend to the challenge of recovery. A family intervention approach is a really good idea. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete-michael whelan
I really like your closing statement about utilizing the family for intervention rather than focusing exclusivity on the individual struggling with addiction. I agree with the point, and feel strongly that in the same way that the individual behavior disrupts the family system, so does the behavior of the family effect the individual and their opportunity to successively attend to the challenge of recovery. A family intervention approach is a really good idea. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete-michael whelan
I agree with Michael. I like how you really stressed that this disease does not just affect the abuser, but family and close loved ones as well. I think putting your personal opinion in your blog and how you have viewed it prior to doing this blog showed how you were very surprised about the impact on substance abuse. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Mollie Messuri
I like how this post was written. I think talking about family substance abuse is really important thing to do, but at the same time I feel like it gets lost among so man other topics....almost as if it's not all that important to address. But it is. I personally can't relate to family substance abuse problems, but I have friends who have families handling these issues. I think it is extremely difficult for my friends and for anyone else dealing with family substance abuse. It's unfair to everyone involved with that person who has that problem, but the reality is, that family member really needs their families support to get through their abuse problem. It's unfair and it is scary to be a part of this problem, but if the person has the support of their family I really believe it will be easier for everyone to handle.
ReplyDelete-Anjali Lappin
I agree Anjali, I think that the #1 thing that gets in the way of a family member from getting help are the enablers. An enabler can simply be the family member that cannot say "no". Not because they're intentions are to keep the substance abuser from getting help. But, because shutting the substance abuser out until they agree to help can be extremely hard, especially if it's a son or daughter. Most enablers are unaware that they are enabling. The whole family should be involved, especially the members that have the closes teis to the abuser. -Julia Morin
ReplyDeleteI liked that you focused on how substance abuse affects family members because it does affect the family but no one really talks about it. I agree with you that the reason why many family members do not really talk about the substance abuse is because they want to protect the family image. Also, like most people, I did like your ending paragraph. I personally feel that a patient can get offered all the treatment in the world but if the family doesn't also get help then the patient has more of a chance to fall back into their old ways. The family members have to stop being the enablers/ over lookers and actually help the person with the addiction.
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