Impact of Substance Misuse on the family
In honor of World Children's day - 20th Nov 2024 Introduction Substance misuse or substance misuse disorder is exceptionally misunderstood, with often people not recognising that they could potentially be misusing substances or become reliant on them: this includes your medications. This piece briefly touches on awareness of excessive use, to the point of addiction i.e., uncontrolled use. Substances can be misused by anyone and although there are a variety of contributing factors towards misuse and addiction, there is no specific gene for addiction, making it challenging to determine who can succumb to it. A lot of people are unaware that any medications, despite it being prescribed can be misused, if not used in line with guidance. This should not deter anyone from using their medications but to simply be mindful of your medications, what are you using it for? And to be mindful of the early signs of potential misuse? Parental Substance Misuse In the UK, there’s been a significant increase over the years, in parental substance misuse, “The Health Survey for England and General Household Survey have suggested that 22–30% of children live with a parent who binge drinks or drinks at a hazardous level and approximately 8% live with a parent who misuses drugs (Duffy, Shaw, Woolfall, & Beynon, 2010; Manning, Best, Faulkner, & Titherington, 2009)”. It’s also important to note, substance misuse disorder is a mental health condition, and also a symptom to mental health conditions. What this means is that it generally commences as a symptom to a mental health condition, where you start to self-medicate for a condition, and can progress to substance disorder. Signs of potential misuse include: Are you building a tolerance? Are you experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have the substance? Do you spend a great deal of time thinking about the substance and how to obtain it? Have you stopped doing enjoyable activities because of your substance use? Have you stopped going to work? What does your substance use pattern? Are you unable to pay vital bills as a result of your use? Are you experience psychological withdrawal symptoms without it? ...
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