Effects of Addiction – Family and Relationships

Addiction is a very serious problem for a person who falls victim to it. Primarily, it destroys the individual’s physical body and mental health, but even more so, it greatly affects that person’s relationships – acquaintances, friends, and most of all family. When someone becomes a victim of addiction – and it does not matter what kind of addiction it may be – it puts a heavy strain in how people deal with that person, and this is the reason why it is important to understand what the effects of addiction are – in family and relationships.

Pride and Honor: How Families Are Torn Apart By Addiction

Most Asian countries like the Philippines place a great deal on honor, and this is why when a member of the family becomes a victim of addiction oftentimes what happens is that person becomes a “disgrace” to his/her family, and is often dealt with harshness and indifference.

Many families become indifferent to a family member who has fallen victim to addiction; while a few even go so far as to actually disown the individual. People who used to be that person’s friends start avoiding him/her, basically turning the individual into a social outcast.

Addiction Alienates Victims

Most addiction victims become socially inept and often find themselves alone due to that person thinking that no one understands him/her. In more serious cases, the victims develop intense fear and paranoia for the people closest to them, thinking that those people are out to deprive them of what they are addicted into. A lot of cases like this have resulted in violence and murder, which only added to the fear that people already have of addiction victims.

The Financial Effects of Addiction

Addiction and poverty are closely related. When someone becomes a victim of addiction, that person suffers insatiable cravings that cause him/her to spend all of his or her resources – at to a great extent, especially when the father falls victim to addiction – the family’s resources, greatly depleting the budget for the important needs such as food and payment of bills.

Finances greatly suffer when someone falls into addiction, and is quickly followed by the destruction of relationships, whether with friends or family. From the amount of money spent to satisfy the addictive cravings to the cost of rehabilitating the addiction victim, the family’s finances take a great hit, thus depleting it rapidly just to address the issue of addiction.

Health and Relationships

Ultimately, addiction destroys the victim’s physical and mental health which places a heavy strain on his/her relationships. In most (if not all) cases of addiction, friends and family members of the victim have a very difficult time of dealing with the individual; when trying to help the person by pointing out the negative effects of what he or she is doing, the victim often lashes out against his/her friends and family, causing them to stay away from him/her.

It is no surprise that victims of addiction suffer from mental degradation; while substances such as drugs and alcohol indeed have chemicals that cause the brain to become less effective, other addictions have psychological effects on its victims that greatly narrow the individual’s perspective and reasoning. This causes the addiction victim to spend less time with his/her friends and family, which only adds to the strain in the relationships that he or she has with them.

Dealing with addiction victims is very difficult, and a lot of times people would rather stay away and become indifferent rather than reach out and help; one really could not blame them, as it simply shows how serious addiction can affect a person’s relationships. Addiction destroys homes, alienates people, and makes it seem to the victim that the whole world is against him or her.

This is the reason why the family’s role is important in preventing addiction. Parents should always strive to teach their children the dangers of addiction, and must do everything they can to keep the latter from falling victim into it.