Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects you, but also your family. Addictions often create interpersonal problems for all family members.
1) Jealousy: You can grow jealous of your friends, your partner, other family members and other people in your life. Your partner may also be jealous and resentful of you.
2) Conflict with Partner: You may have arguments, get/give the "silent treatment" or grow apart by putting your addiction first.
3) Conflict with Children: You may argue with your children and they may disregard your authority or be afraid of you.
4) Conflict over Money: You may struggle economically because of losing your job, taking time off from your job, making poor financial choices or simply pouring your money into your addiction.
5) Emotional Trauma: You may create emotional hardships for your partner and/or your children by yelling, talking down, insulting or manipulating.
6) Violence: You may become violent or your family members may become violent with you, including slapping, hitting or smashing or throwing objects.
7) Cheating: You may become distant from your partner and seek satisfaction through pornography, Internet sex, prostitution or someone else in your life who you feel "understands" you.
8) Separation: Your behavior due to addiction may cause separation, divorce, and/or isolation from other family members, particularly children, either because they've been taken from you or because they don't want to be around you.
9) Patterns: Your life example will influence your partner, your children and other family members. There is a high likelihood that your children will become addicted to drugs or alcohol.
10) Health Risks: Drinking while pregnant can cause fetal alcohol syndrome -- damage to the baby's brain. Smoking in the household can cause health problems for family members from secondhand smoke, including lung cancer
.Being under the influence of drugs and alcohol will overall impair your judgment and can lead to neglect or harm.
