Drug and alcohol abuse affects different family structures in different ways. These family structures are adapted from The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services "Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy" guide:
- You live alone or with a partner: Both of you need help. If one of you has an addiction and the other doesn't, you'll suffer from issues of co-dependence.
- You live with a spouse or partner and young children: Parents' problems effect children. Often, one parent has an addiction and the other protects the children or assumes more parental responsibilities. If both parents have addictions,
the effect on children is worse. Your addiction is likely to pass down to your children. - You have a step-family: Substance abuse impedes your step-family's integration and stability.
- You are older and have grown children: Family resources are needed to treat an older adult's substance abuse. Elder maltreatment may become an issue.
- You are younger and live with your family: The needs and concerns of siblings or other family members may get ignored because of crises caused by substance abuse. If you also have a parent who has a substance abuse problem, you're in danger of physical and/or emotional conflicts.
