1 in 4 kids live in a family where someone has an alcohol problem. 1 in 8 children (8.7 million) aged 17 or younger lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year substance use disorder (SUD).
How do kids feel about having a parent who is addicted to drugs?
What can happen to kids when they grow up if their parents abused drugs?
People who have parents with substance use problems are at higher risk of having these problems too. A support group or therapy can help you learn how to avoid this risk.
What kinds of help is there for adults who are addicted to drugs?
How might kids act if their parents are addicted to drugs?
Is it ever the kid's fault if a parent relapses as a result of their addiction?
What might kids worry about when their parent is addicted to drugs?
Living with a parent who has a substance use problem is hard. It can affect how you feel and act. It can affect your family life too. What it's like is different for each person.
How might kids act when their parent relapse as a result of their addiction?
Why don't people who are addicted to drugs just stop using drugs?
What are some reasons why kids might not talk to others about their parent's relapse as a result of their addiction to drugs?
Some people learn not to speak up or show emotion. They worry it may trigger a parent's drinking or substance use. Habits like these may help you survive tough times at home. But they may not work in other parts of your life. Being able to speak up, say how you feel, and show emotion helps you have good relationships in the future.
How might others act around kids after their parent relapse as a result of their addiction?
What is addiction? How does it affect the brain?
An addiction is an urge to do something that is hard to control or stop. Because of the way drugs work on the brain, they affect the ability to make healthy choices and decisions. Even drinking makes people more likely to get involved in dangerous situations, like driving under the influence.
How might kids feel whose parent relapse as a result of drug addiction?
How come some parents still continue to use drugs even after they have gotten lots of help with their addictions?
What are some of the hardest things for kids to talk about after a parent relapses as a result of their addiction?