When there is a blood relative in the family with an addiction, the chances of you developing an addiction increase. Many people know that genetics can play a significant role in the next generation becoming addicted to substances, but did you know that it is more than genetics that creates the risk? Familial addiction is more than just genetics.
How Much is Addiction Inherited?
According to Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, it has been known for many years that a family occurrence of substance abuse creates a 50 percent vulnerability for blood relatives. That is one out of every two people with addiction in the family.
Those odds increase, however, based on the environmental factors within the home. Are there multiple people with addiction in the home? Is there emotional, physical, or sexual abuse? Are there any co-occurring mental health diagnoses? Are there children who take care of their parents?
The trouble with addiction is that it is rarely just substance abuse. Typically, there is substance abuse and at least one other form of dysfunction or trauma. That creates an almost certainty of substance abuse in the next generation unless there are interventions. Substance abuse is more than just the inherited genes; it is also the inherited trauma.
What is the Impact of Addiction on Families?
When one person has an addiction, it affects the entire family. Their quality of life is affected in every aspect of their lives, including:
- Emotional
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Family relationships
- Social development
- Financial
- Daily function at work, school, etc.
Parents with addictions impact their spouse and children significantly. Beginning in the womb, a pregnant mother in active substance abuse can cause physical damage to the fetus. After birth, a parent in active addiction can impact a child’s attachment abilities, which can affect all of their relationships throughout their life.
Abuse and neglect are rampant as well. Parents with addiction are three times more likely to physically or sexually abuse their child, according to Social Work In Public Health. Children also learn to take care of their parents and siblings when they are far too young to do so, something known as parentification. Parentification and other trauma create a higher risk of developing substance abuse, mental health diagnoses, arrest, committing violent crimes, etc.
A spouse with an addiction affects the marriage significantly, with high divorce rates amongst those with substance abuse. Financial stress is also common due to the cost of drug or alcohol use, potential legal costs, and decreased income from missed work. A spouse may also develop a mental health diagnosis such as depression, anxiety or become codependent, creating an even more toxic environment.
Children who are teens or even adults with an addiction can affect the family by creating conflict, financial challenges, enabling and codependency, and having other mental and physical health concerns related to addiction.
Environmental Addiction: Learned Behaviors
Within the family structure, most of the social and relationship skills are developed. When a child sees their mother taking pills due to stress at home or work, the child inherently learns that taking pills is how to deal with stress. If a parent gets angry after drinking because they are unhappy, the child will learn that drinking is how to cope with dissatisfaction or unhappiness.
Much like observing alcohol or substance abuse to cope with feelings is a learned behavior, children can also learn relational behaviors from the adults in their life. Children who are abused by parents with an addiction are more likely to grow up to have an addiction and also abuse their children. These learned behaviors from the family environment need to be treated properly as soon as possible for the child to experience childhood and unlearn these family behaviors.
Upon treating these behaviors through therapy and family counseling, the child may have a slim chance of making a full recovery. It may be discouraging that a child exposed to negative family behaviors has a smaller chance of creating positive family behaviors in the future than other children, but what is important is that they are given therapy and positive modeling as soon as possible.
Breaking the Addiction Cycle
This cycle of addiction, abuse, trauma, and dysfunction can be broken, but it is not easy. The person who seeks treatment must also continue in therapy to re-learn how to be in a family. They must also heal from their trauma and be able to set appropriate boundaries from toxic family members. None of these things are easy, but breaking the cycle of addiction is worth it.
Familial addiction impacts each member of the family. Because of genetics, trauma, and learned behaviors, the cycle is more than likely to continue for generations if interventions are not made. Breaking that cycle takes strength and a desire to be healthy. Breaking the cycle begins with treatment for substance abuse and may continue for years of therapy and setting boundaries, but it can be done. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we understand the impact of addiction on the family. We are here to help you heal from addiction and support you as you work to break the familial cycle of addiction and dysfunction. Our friendly and caring staff understand addiction treatment and are prepared to help you every step of the way. Call us at (951) 526-4582, and let us become your adopted family. Stay with us on our beautiful Southern California ranch, and let us help you break the cycle of addiction in your family.