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Rachel Lillard 1099188 

Prof. Hellmers 

ENG. 1201 

December 12, 2021 

What is addiction and how does active substance abuse impact families/marriage and

childhood development all the way through adulthood? 

Almost everyone either knows or is related to someone who struggles with

addiction. Addiction does not discriminate. Children and families all over the world are

affected by addiction at some point in time. Addiction affects personal relationships, causes

financial hardship, and increases the risk of abuse. The effects of growing up with an active

addict in the home will follow children all the way through adulthood leaving a lasting

impact. 

Substance addiction and abuse is a complex brain disease characterized by

compulsive drug or alcohol use that leads to significant disruptions in daily living, including

loss of work, relationships, and health (Understanding). It is progressive in nature and

usually requires professional intervention for successful treatment (Understanding). Many

may argue that addiction is a choice or a moral problem, but scientist have found that

addiction is a disease that takes over the brain, changing its chemical makeup. A healthy

brain rewards healthy behaviors, triggering brain circuits that make you feel great! A

healthy brain will also let you know when you are in danger so you can react accordingly.

But the brain of an addict begins to work against them interrupting the reward circuit. An
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addict’s brain is also thrown into emotional overdrive causing more anxiety and stress when

not using the abused substance. This puts the brain in fight or flight mode causing the addict

to believe they will not survive without the substance.

What parts of the brain are affected by substance abuse? The ganglia play an

important role in positive forms of motivation, including the pleasurable effects of healthy

activities like eating, socializing, and sex, and are also involved in the formation of habits

and routines (National). When this circuit adapts to the presence of drugs and alcohol it

makes it harder for the addict to feel pleasure from anything besides the substance they are

addicted to. The extended amygdala  plays a role in stressful feelings like anxiety, irritability,

and unease, which characterize withdrawal after the drug high fades and thus motivates the

person to seek the drug again (National). This eventually causes the addict to use the

substance to relieve discomfort rather than doing it for the initial high. The prefrontal

cortex powers the ability to think, plan, solve problems, make decisions, and exert self-

control over impulse (National). Shifting balance between this circuit and the circuits of the

basal ganglia and extended amygdala makes a person with a substance use disorder seek the

drug compulsively with reduced impulse control (National).

Fig. 1. This photo shows a scan of a healthy human brain vs. the brain of an addict
(Understanding Addiction).
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Addiction is the result of numerous factors. Your genetics play a huge role in

addiction. People who have relatives with an addiction problem are at an increased risk for

developing an addiction themselves (Brande). The influence of genetics on addiction varies

from drug to drug. Cocaine abuse has an estimated heritability of 72%, opiates 70%, alcohol

55%, sedatives 50%, cannabis 41%, and hallucinogens at 39% (Brande). Another part that

plays a huge role in addiction are environmental factors and how people are raised. The

aspects of a person’s environment that may play a role in causing addiction include, peer

pressure, poor parental supervision, parental drug abuse and criminal activity, presences of

drugs at home or school, and living in a poor community (Brande). Substantially addiction is

about 50% genetic and 50% to poor coping skills which is established through childhood

development.

Substance abuse is one of the biggest social problems faced by the United States.

Addiction puts a huge strain on several aspects of society, but the strain it puts on families

and children is crucial. Active addiction in families not only causes financial troubles and

inconsistency but it can also lead to emotional and behavioral issues in children which will

more than likely follow them through adulthood. The affects addiction has on a child can

begin in utero. If a pregnant mother is struggling with addiction it can have lasting effects

on the baby’s development. Any toxins put into the mother’s system can travel through the

placenta to the fetus, sometimes causing short term or long-term effects. Some short-term

effects of babies born to substance abusing mothers are withdrawal symptoms, irritability,

feeding problems, low birth weight, seizures, and diarrhea (Lee). The more significant

long-term developmental problems that may be seen in babies is growth failure, organ
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damage, fetal alcohol syndrome, birth defects, SIDS, premature birth, and even death

(Lee).

The first 5 years of a child’s life are the most critical. This is the period where the

brain begins to develop the most rapidly. More than any other time in a human’s life span.

From the time of birth until the age of 5, it is crucial that the child is nurtured, talked to,

and supported by their care giver. This is the time children learn appropriate behaviors,

boundaries, empathy, and many other social skills that remain with them the rest of their

lives. If a child does not develop a healthy attachment style with their care giver it can

lead to long-term mental health problems. A child being raised by an addict can suffer

greatly as they develop into adults.

Studies show 1 in 8 children ages 17 and younger live in a house with a parent who

has a substance abuse disorder (T. Buddy). Children who grow up in a home with parents

who are addicts are 3 times more likely to suffer physical, sexual, and emotional abuse

(Thatcher). Due to the rewiring drugs and alcohol does to the brain, domestic violence is

common in child and addict relationships. In the book “Perfect Daughters, Adult Daughters

of Alcoholics”, women discuss the physical abuse they experienced growing up. Many

women claim they had been beaten, thrown, burned, or cut with knives throughout their

childhood. Sexual abuse is another tragedy that can occur while growing up with an addict.

Some children experience sexual abuse from the addict, but they are also commonly put in

toxic environments where the abuse can occur due to the addict’s negligence. The addict may

even ignore their child’s complaint of sexual abuse that is occurring, turning the other cheek.

Children with parents who are addicts often face neglect and do not get their basic

needs met because addiction can cause major distraction. Some of those basic needs are
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keeping the child clean and providing meals, along with the child’s educational and

social needs. Addicts often fall into a pattern of making their addiction a priority over their

children. Causing lasting emotional problems such as anger, anxiety, depression, and

detachment. Those who suffer different kinds of abuse may develop childhood traumas.

Causing them to become hypervigilant, have flashbacks, and exaggerated responses to

things.

Many addicts struggle with mental health conditions themselves. This puts even more

strain on their children because they not only have to regulate their lives around the addiction

but also around the addict’s mental state. All while trying to grow and learn how to regulate

their own emotions. Oftentimes, young people begin to feel guilty and start blaming

themselves for the addict’s behavior. They start to believe they are the reason their parent

chooses to drink or get high. Living with someone who is a substance abuser is

unpredictable. There are constant highs and lows which can lead a child to feel neglected and

alone. If the addict is physically or emotionally abusive when using, anxiety may heighten

even more. The uncertainty and unpredictability addiction causes can wreak havoc on a

child. This anxiety and sadness felt by a young person can develop into severe depression.

Having a parent or parents who are addicts can cause the child to have low self-esteem,

social phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, physical injury, and separation anxiety.

Adolescents can also struggle with anger management problems, using anger as a

defense mechanism. They use anger to express their emotions because they feel that they

have no other way to express their built-up anxieties and fears they live with. This doe not

only cause issues at home, but it can also become a problem at school and in everyday life.

Confusion is another obstacle faced by adolescents because living with an addict is very
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unpredictable. As a result, kids are often confused because there is no routine in their life and

no two days are ever the same. Everything around them is always changing and different so

there is no structure. This is a problem because many children thrive having routines and

structure in their lives. Without it, life can feel chaotic for young people.

Embarrassment is another obstacle a child must maneuver through growing up with

an active addict in their life. Many young people effected keep their home lives very private

and secret because they do not want to be judged by their peers. They may even avoid having

friends over in fear of how the addict is going to act in front of them. Another unfortunate

issue they may face is the embarrassment of the addict showing up to school events or

sporting events high or intoxicated. These are only some of the main concern’s children will

face growing up with an addict.

Knowing all the damage that can be done growing up with an addict gives you much

insight on some of the things adult children of addict’s face in adulthood. Adult children of

addicts often have a hard time functioning normal in everyday life. Many struggle with

personal relationships due to the neglect they faced growing up. They often learn to take on a

lot of responsibility at a young age so they are always under the assumption they can never

rely on people for anything. For those that may have experienced emotional or physical

abuse, building emotional intimacy as an adult can feel impossible and they often self-

sabotage (Common). This creates unstable relationships and they often withdraw, becoming

physically and emotionally distant. Additionally, they may have witnessed a great deal of

violence or domestic abuse in their childhood home, causing them to subconsciously seek

conflict and drama because that is what’s familiar to them (Common). Growing up in
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toxicity is their norm, making them prone to attracting toxic people and staying in toxic

environments.

Another problem adult children of addicts may face is perfectionism. Many of them

become over-achievers and obsessed with making everything perfect. This can happen

because they saw the lack of motivation from the addict, and they want to be sure they are

never put in a negative circumstance. It can also happen because they don’t want to let down

their other family members or the addict. Although this isn’t necessarily a bad trait, after a

while it can take its toll. Setting unrealistic goals for yourself and always having high

standards can cause mental health problems and problems within your personal relationships.

While there are many factors that influence a person’s susceptibility to addiction,

genetics, and exposure at a young age both play a powerful role (Common). The risk of

addiction is always looming in the back of an adult’s head who grew up with an addict.

They are more likely to develop an addiction themselves especially if they grew up being

emotionally, physically, or sexually abused. Individuals who grew up with addicts may

have secure coping mechanisms avoiding addictive substances completely because they

learned the destruction it can cause. For others they may become rebellious following the

addict’s footsteps due to spite, lack of coping skills, or resentment. No matter what path the

adult follows the thought of addiction and chaos is always in the back of their mind. Which

can be a powerful thought to maneuver, considering drinking alcohol and doing certain

addictive drugs is a social norm.

As adult children of addicts grow older and become established grownups, the roles

with the addict may very well reverse. Many adult children of addicts become caregivers to

the addict at an alarmingly young age. Now that the adult can fully take care of themselves
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financially, they may find themselves supporting the addict in different ways than before.

Such as giving the addict a place to live or financially supporting the toxic habits. This

allows for the addict to become increasingly reliant on their child creating a never-ending,

toxic cycle. Not only did the adult have to take care of the addict as a child but they remain

having to support a grown adult who should be self-sufficient. This can become emotionally,

physically, and financially draining to the adult child often leading to increased depression

and anxiety.

Active addiction not only interrupts young children, and adults but it interrupts the

family as a whole unit. It will also make a lasting impact on your marriage. The addict’s

family and spouse can’t trust or rely on them. The addict is more than likely unpredictable,

moody, or emotionally and physically absent. Parenting completely falls onto the sober

spouse creating resentment and an increased risk for mental health problems. When the

spouse feels neglected and are not getting their needs met it takes its toll on the entire family.

Many people who are married to addicts say that they feel as if they are a single parent.

Feeling isolated, hopeless, angry, and stressed. The American Society of Addiction Medicine

reports: “Many episodes of intimate partner violence (IPV) involve alcohol and/or illicit drug

consumption. Research has found that on days of heavy drug and/or alcohol use, physical

violence was 11 times more likely among IPV batterers and victims.” Ultimately, 7.3 percent

of marriages that end in divorce are due to substance abuse (How).

No matter your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, or socioeconomic status,

addiction does not discriminate. Millions of people all over the world are impacted by

substance abuse disorder. Substance addiction and abuse is a complex brain disease

characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use that leads to significant disruptions in daily
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living, including loss of work, relationships, and health (Understanding). Not only does the

addict suffer, but the children and families of addicts suffer greatly too. Breaking the cycle of

addiction in your family is at your fingertips. If you or someone you know is struggling with

substance addiction reach out to SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. Taking

that step can lead to a better tomorrow. The future depends on what you do today.
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Works Cited

Brande, Lauren. “What Causes Addiction?: Understanding Substance Addiction.”

Recovery.org, 29 Apr. 2021, https://www.recovery.org/addiction/causes/. Accessed 24

October 2021.

“Common Issues Faced by Adult Children of Someone with an Addiction.” Burning Tree |,

20 Feb. 2020, https://www.burningtreeranch.com/common-issues-faced-by-adult-

children-of-someone-with-an-addiction/. Accessed 1 December 2021.

Lee, Kimberly. “Infant of a Substance-Using Mother: Medlineplus Medical Encyclopedia.”

MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 29 Sept. 2019,

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007238.htm. Accessed 1 November 2021.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Drugs and the Brain.” National Institute on Drug Abuse,

27 July 2021, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-

addiction/drugs-brain. Accessed 1 November 2021.

Soper, Richard. “Intimate Partner Violence and Co-Occurring Substance Abuse/Addiction.”

American Society of Addiction Medicine. 6 Oct. 2014. Accessed 1 December 2021.

Thatcher, Todd. “How Parental Substance Abuse Impacts Kids: Valley Cares.” Valley

Behavioral Health, 12 Nov. 2020, https://valleycares.com/blog/families-in-crisis-how-

parental-substance-abuse-and-mental-health-impacts-kids/. Accessed 21 November

2021.
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T, Buddy. “How a Father's Alcohol Use Impacts His Kids.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind,

15 Jan. 2021, https://www.verywellmind.com/fathers-drinking-affects-children-

63767. Accessed 21 October 2021. 

“Understanding Addiction Reward and Pleasure in the Brain.” Inspire Malibu, 11 Feb. 2019,

https://www.inspiremalibu.com/blog/alcohol-addiction/understanding-addiction-

reward-and-pleasure-in-the-brain/. Accessed 1 December 2021.

“Understanding Substance Addiction.” Caron Treatment Centers, 2021,

https://www.caron.org/addiction-101/substance-abuse/what-is-substance-addiction?

gclid=CjwKCAjwoP6LBhBlEiwAvCcthD5GMY0tbc3Mj3bWrkaroT7fzICNixzq1HN_

10CAsQJJ5gOl2wGUBBoCwXEQAvD_BwE. Accessed 1 November 2021.