By: Lakeview Health
When addiction takes hold of a person’s life, it can cause remarkable and disturbing damage. If left unchecked, it can literally take a person’s money, heart, body and soul. However, people underestimate drug effects on family.
About Drug Effects on Family
Addiction typically leaves the individual incapable of maintaining normal relationships. This creates a crisis of faith for family members. Do they stand by and say nothing for fear of alienating their loved one, or do they step in and risk damaging the relationship permanently? Addiction often creates these dilemmas. Another difficult aspect of addiction is the financial strain for the user. At some point, the need for drugs could force the individual to borrow, or—even worse—steal money. In both cases, family members become a primary target, putting family members at risk of becoming co-dependent enablers.
The Unspeakable Drug Effects on Family
As an addiction gets worse, family members realize that their loved one is risking his or her life with every use. Health deterioration, overdose or even a car accident are in the back of a family’s mind on a daily basis. These constant worries can make family members feel hopeless. In 2014, the American Society of Addiction Medicine reported that over 47,000 people died from a drug overdose. The last thing a family wants is for their loved one to become another statistic.
Finding Help
For a family in turmoil because of addiction, Lakeview Health in Jacksonville, Florida, provides a viable treatment option for your loved one. Our family therapy program for addiction recovery emphasizes family communication and understanding. By the end of the process, you and your family members will have a better understanding of your loved one’s addiction. You’ll also learn how to provide a strong support system. Our family program is just part of our full continuum of care for men and women, including detox, residential treatment and aftercare. If your loved one’s addiction is causing a strain on your family’s relationship, Lakeview Health can help. Call us now at 866-704-7692.
