Those in recovery for substance abuse understand the details of detox, withdrawal symptoms, dealing with cravings and coping with the emotional strain of learning how to live a clean life.
Imagine going through the complicated and often difficult process of rehab knowing your children have been exposed to drug use and having a parent in rehab. For an ever-increasing number of rehab clients, this is their reality.
Parents as Substance Abusers
The parents as users is a vicious cycle of drug use and mental health problems. A report released at the end of April 2009 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed that in the United States one in 10 children, about 12 percent, are living with at least one parent experiencing problems with substance abuse.
“The research increasingly shows that children growing up in homes with alcohol- and drug-abusing parents suffer — often greatly,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H.
Impact of Drug-Abusing Mom and Dad
For children living with substance abusing caregivers, the impacts can be dangerous. Children can have risk for interruptions in their social and emotional development, which can lead to mental and physical health problems.
A child repeating the parent's behavior also is a risk factor; the National Institute of Drug Abuse lists caregivers that abuse drugs as one of the top risk factors for children and drug abuse.
For the adults, stress from parenthood such as employment, paying bills and caring for children may all have direct links to drug use. As a parent seeking help for substance abuse, the stigma of being a drug user, feelings of inadequacy as a parent and even legal issues can all compound the situation for the substance-abusing parent.
Finding Drug and Alcohol Help
For parents that are substance abusers, there is rehab help out there, and more importantly, very specific help in the form of family programs, which are offered by 72 percent of substance abuse treatment facilities.
Family programs are designed to help build a support system for clients, so that post-rehab, the client has a secure environment in which to return. Such family programs educate the client, family members and friends about substance abuse, and allow for all parties to discuss current issues, underlying problems and how these factors have led to a loved one with a substance abuse problem.
Since many clients in rehab are mothers, around 76.2 percent, a female parent seeking rehab can consider substance abuse centers that offer programs that are gear specifically towards women. These can include group therapy sessions with other mothers, parenting classes and family counseling.
For any parent seeking substance abuse treatment, centers can offer non-gender specific programs that can make maintaining recovery and family life possible. Facilities can offer ancillary programs such as social, legal and employment services to help parents transition back to their responsibilities. Parents also should take advantage of relapse prevention and aftercare programs.
For more information on finding a substance abuse program near you, use the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.
Lisa Ann Schleipfer - I am a creative writer from the Great Lakes area, now residing in the sticky state of Florida. I penned my first poem when I was eight, ...
