Alcohol and drug addiction can have a devastating effect on the entire family. It's a heartbreaking reality that thousands of families face every year. But with the right support, families can find hope and healing. In this article, we'll explore how alcohol and drug addiction affects the whole family, how substance abuse treatment works, and what family interventions can look like. When your child is dependent on alcohol or drugs, it's a natural fear for any parent that they will lose the battle with their addiction.
Unfortunately, this fear has become a reality for some families. To prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to another family, it's important to continue raising awareness and prevention. For those who have suffered the greatest loss, there are resources available to help with the grieving process. Counseling, support groups, church organizations, websites, online books, and articles can all be helpful. When you have young children in the family, it can be difficult to explain an overdose to them.
Tips for Talking to Children About Addiction and Overdose Loss is an article that may be useful. BPUSA (Bereaved Parents of the USA) is an organization that provides support for grieving families who have lost their children to addiction. There are no fees or salaries paid within the organization; all work is done by volunteer parents who have experienced the same loss and want to help other families survive it. When a Child Dies from Drugs; Practical Help for Grieving Parents by Pat Wittberger and Russ Wittberger is a book that may be beneficial. True empathy is sometimes not insisting that it will be okay, but rather acknowledging that it is not. Teresa shared her story of losing her daughter Hanna to heroin: “I have 7 children and she loved me more.
I'm taking the time to grieve. I tried to help her, but it wasn't enough. God, how I love her and miss her. I can't wait until the day I see her again.
My girl didn't get the help she deserved. And I'd like to shout it from the rooftops and I don't care who hears it.”Jo-Ann shared her story of losing her son: “I don't want to be here without him anymore, everything has changed and it can't be undone, no one would help me during the time I begged ‘family and friends’ to join around him and I hate them all for ignoring what was happening... I was the only one there begging anyone to listen to me to help me, but nobody cared enough, and now it's too late.”It's heartbreaking that these mothers have lost their children in such tragic circumstances. It's important that they get the support they need during this difficult time.
GriefShare is a group held at Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne, NJ on the first and third Thursdays of every month that may be beneficial for those looking for something more Bible-based after losing a child. It's unfortunate that so many people are addicted to alcohol or drugs. With continued awareness and prevention, we can hopefully reduce this number in the coming years. It's especially difficult for those whose children are still struggling with addiction; all they can do is hold fast to God's promises that they will be reunited one day. No one understands better than another mother when it comes to dealing with addiction in the family. It's wonderful that there are resources available to those who need them.
If you or someone you know needs help dealing with alcohol or drug addiction in their family, please reach out for support.
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