When someone becomes addicted to prescription pain medication, it doesn’t just affect them but their entire family.
Addiction can have devastating effects on the financial, physical, and mental health of everyone involved in the addict’s life.
Approximately 25% of those prescribed pain medication by a doctor it and up to 80% of heroin addicts started by misusing pain medications.
Addiction isn’t an issue that only affects a small demographic of the population. Everyone has the potential to become addicted. All it may take is an injury and seeing their doctor.
There is help through Florida drug rehab programs, support groups, and other resources available to offer hope and support for addicts and the family members of addicts.
Keep reading to learn more about the ways addiction affects the entire family.
Emotional Stress for Everyone
When a loved one becomes addicted to pain medication, it can cause emotional stress for family members that goes far beyond worry. Pain meds can completely change the personality, priorities, and motivations or a person who is addicted to them.
Erratic, defensive, and even violent behavior may become the new norm from someone with an addiction. Family begins to walk on eggshells never knowing what behavior or mood they’ll face from the person.
There’s also the emotional stress of seeing a loved one physically and mentally spiral into the abyss of addiction. In 2017, 72,000 Americans died as a result of overdoses.
Spouses, children, parents, siblings, and others carry this fear and stress with them when they love an addict. Loved ones may feel overwhelmed because they don’t know how to help the addict.
Physical Stress on Family Members
When there is emotional stress, it can lead to physical illnesses and higher risk factors for heart attacks, stroke, depression, and many other conditions.
There is also the physical stress of carrying more of the family load. Often other family members have to pick up the slack and work longer hours, perform more household duties and ware themselves out.
Sleepless nights are a part of living in a home with an addict and that can wreak havoc on your health, too.
Financial Stress
There can be a lot of financial stress put on a family when a loved one is addicted to pain meds. Often the addiction started with a prescription to treat pain and there was already an injury or medical issue adding to the financial strain on the family.
As addiction progresses many struggling cannot maintain employment, debts begin to mount as the cost of their addiction rises and their income dwindles.
Many addicts end up stealing from friends and family. They tend to make bad financial decisions. Their addiction has taken priority over the rest of life. This can leave families in a situation where they can’t make ends meet.
Once a loved one needs something like Florida drug rehab or is hospitalized for the physical effects of addiction there can be even greater financial worry placed on the family who ends up sacrificing their needs and wants to help an addicted loved one.
Florida Drug Rehab Can Help
Whether you have become addicted or you are concerned about a loved one’s addiction, Florida drug rehab can help you find resources, support, and gain control of your life again.
Connect with us today for a brighter future tomorrow.
Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?
If you or a loved one needs treatment and rehabilitation for substance use, Transformations by the Gulf can help.
Transformations by the Gulf offers individualistic and holistic recovery services. We designed our inpatient and outpatient programs to treat individuals based on biological, psychological, familial and social needs.
Our residential homes and treatment facilities are near the beach and offer a comfortable setting for rehabilitation. If you or a loved one needs help, contact Transformations by the Gulf to learn more about our recovery services.
If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498
You can also find out more information about Transformations by the Gulf by visiting Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce.
