|  | Family Health | Substance Abuse

Family Factors of Substance Abuse

Many factors affect substance abuse within families. Some kids are at a higher risk than others to become substance abusers. Kids in families with substance abuse often have to take care of themselves, and avoid blaming themselves for the problems within the family. Educating yourself on factors of substance abuse can help you prevent them.

  1. Parental Substance Abuse

    • If a parent is an alcoholic or drug user, it can affect child to the point where they become a substance abuser later on in life. According to the Center of Addiction and Family website, children of substance abusers are up to four times more likely to become substance abusers themselves. Children blame themselves for their parent's substance abuse. They think if they get better grades or clean up their room, their parents will stop the behavior. They don't realize they are not to blame. Kids can get traumatized and fear for their own safety and their parent's safety.

    Physical And Sexual Abuse

    • Violence, physical and sexual abuse are common in families where one of the parents suffers from substance abuse. People who are sexually and physically abused often fall victim to substance abuse to cope with their traumatic ordeal; they try to self-medicate. According to the Center of Addiction and Family website, Children growing up in violent, chaotic households have low self-esteem which makes them easy victims of abuse.

    Discipline

    • If there aren't any rules enforced within the household, and child-supervision is lacking, kids may feel like they are allowed to drink alcohol and abuse drugs. If too much discipline is enforced, this may also backfire and result in substance abuse. The National Library of Medicine states that some families lack communication and structure and don't spend enough time supervising kids. Children in single-parent families are more likely to have academic difficulties and emotional problems according to the National Library of Medicine website.

    Dysfunctional Relationships

    • Dysfunctional parent-child relationships and violence amongst the parents can trigger substance abuse within the family. The tension and conflicts at home may effect a child's schoolwork, and the child may distance himself from his peers. The lack of stability and nurturing within the home will not effect the child as much if he learns distancing techniques where he separates himself from the problems at home.

Substance Abuse - Related Articles