Navigation: Will Drugs Affect My Relationships with Friends and Family?, How Do Friends and Family Perceive Drug Use?, Changes in Behavior and Personality, Breakdown of Trust, Dependability and Accountability, Communication Problems, The Effect on Romantic Relationships, Mending Relationships After Drug Use
Life is full of complex relationships, from the bond we share with family to the connections we build with friends. At their best, these relationships offer support, love, and trust. But what happens when drugs enter the picture?
Unfortunately, substance use disorder (SUD) affects many people around the world. Also known as drug addiction, this condition is a complex medical issue that is characterized by the compulsive intake of harmful substances despite its consequences. An addicted individual will keep taking drugs or drinking alcohol even when they are already suffering from its adverse effects.
But beyond the physical and mental health effects, substance use disorder is a complicated condition because it not only affects the individual but also the people around them. Whether it’s illicit drugs or prescription medications, drugs can profoundly affect the relationships that matter most to us.
In this article we will explore the different ways substance abuse and addiction can impact our connections with the people we care about most. We’ll look at how loved ones perceive substance use, how this condition affects our loved ones, and how we can mend these relationships. Let’s take a closer look.
Will Drugs Affect My Relationships with Friends and Family?
The short answer to this question is yes, it can definitely impact your relationship with friends and family.
When someone starts using drugs, it might not seem like it will affect their relationships. In the beginning, it might feel like a personal choice that won’t impact others. However, the truth is that drug use, even occasional or recreational, can have far-reaching consequences for your relationships.
These consequences usually start with small, subtle shifts but can snowball into significant changes. In fact, it affects everyone: partners, parents, children, and siblings. They may constantly stress over the addicted person’s behavior, which can take a toll on their physical and mental health. [1]
Let’s face it: it’s hard to watch someone you love grapple with the effects of addiction. Without proper treatment, addiction can eventually destroy your home, work and family life.
How Do Friends and Family Perceive Drug Use?
Your friends and family may have different views on drugs, depending on their experiences and beliefs. Some may be accepting of casual or recreational drug use, while others may have strong objections to it. This difference in perception can cause tension and even conflict.
Stigma
Many drugs carry a stigma, whether it’s illegal substances or prescription medications that are abused. Friends and family might judge your use of drugs harshly, even if it’s not affecting your day-to-day responsibilities—yet. This stigma can lead to feelings of shame and isolation.
While they may have the addicted individual’s best interests at heart, the true danger of stigma lies in the dehumanization of the person. Their addiction may be seen as a moral failing or a sign of weakness even though there are several genetic and environmental factors that contribute to its development.
When a person who is struggling with addiction decides to pursue treatment, stigma may also get in their way. They may be shamed out of seeking treatment because even the rehab process has a stigma associated with it.
Friends and family members should therefore educate themselves on addiction and the treatment process so that they can support their loved one properly
Fear
Loved ones often fear that drug use will lead to addiction or legal problems, especially with substances that are known for their addictive qualities. This fear can strain your relationships, as they might try to intervene or distance themselves in an attempt to protect their own well-being.
Again, this fear is a product of stigma, and the best way to deal with it is through proper education about addiction and recovery.
Confusion
Friends and family might not understand why you’re using drugs, especially if they’ve never used them themselves. This lack of understanding can lead to frustration on both sides, causing rifts in your relationships.
During treatment, patients may participate in support groups and meetings so that they can be surrounded by people who understand exactly what they are going through. Family therapy can also help address the fear and confusion loved ones experience when a family member develops substance use disorder.
Changes in Behavior and Personality
Now let’s talk about the various ways SUDs can impact your relationships. Keep in mind that drugs don’t just affect your body and mind—they also affect your behavior and personality. Even casual drug use can lead to mood swings, irritability, or a change in priorities. Over time, these changes can become more noticeable and harder to manage. [1]
Loved ones are usually the first to notice these behavioral changes, causing them to feel concerned and stressed out. This creates a ripple effect in the addicted person’s relationships as the addiction takes hold.
As addiction develops, people often become more isolated and withdrawn, prioritizing their substance use over social connections and responsibilities. This shift in behavior can lead to increased secrecy, dishonesty, and erratic actions as they attempt to conceal the extent of their addiction. [1]
Friends and family members may notice mood swings, aggression, or irritability, as the person’s brain chemistry is altered by the drugs. Over time, the addicted person may distance themselves from loved ones, either out of shame or to avoid intervention, leaving those who care about them feeling confused, hurt, and helpless.
Family dynamics often change significantly as addiction progresses. Relationships can become strained, with loved ones feeling a mix of concern, anger, and frustration. The personality changes in the addicted individual can create emotional tension and mistrust, leading to conflict and estrangement. [1]
For friends and family, watching a loved one struggle with addiction can be extremely difficult as they worry about the person’s health and safety, while grappling with the loss of the person they once knew.
Breakdown of Trust
Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and when someone struggles with addiction, this foundation is typically shaken to its core. As the person becomes more and more unreliable, the may begin to break promises, fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or even engage in deceitful actions like lying or stealing to support their addiction. [2]
These behaviors begin to accumulate, leaving family members and friends feeling betrayed, hurt, and disappointed. The consistent breaking of trust can erode the bond that once existed, leaving relationships strained or even shattered.
For families, this breakdown of trust can create emotional distance and tension within the household. Parents may feel they can no longer rely on their child, siblings might become resentful, and partners may feel abandoned.
In many cases, loved ones struggle with the positive memories of their relationship, comparing it to the bleakness of their current reality.
Friends may distance themselves out of frustration or to protect their own well-being. Marriages may end. This causes the person to be further isolated, creating an unhealthy cycle of substance abuse and loneliness. [2]
Rebuilding trust after such damage takes time, and it often requires both the person in recovery and their loved ones to undergo proper healing processes.
Dependability and Accountability
As we mentioned earlier, drug abuse can make it harder for you to follow through on commitments. You might miss important events, show up late, or fail to meet the expectations of the people around you. This includes your responsibilities at home, at work, or to your community. Over time, this lack of dependability can damage your relationships.
When someone is addicted to substances, it becomes more difficult for others to rely on them. Friends and family may become frustrated or hurt by the repeated unreliability, as the addicted person might promise to change or attend important occasions but fail to follow through due to their drug use.
Sometimes, in order to create a false sense of normalcy at home, family members may enable their loved one’s behavior by covering for them, making excuses, lying on their behalf, providing financial support, or simply tolerating their irresponsible actions. Enabling behaviors may become more prominent at home or in the person’s social circles. [1]
Even if they think they are helping the addicted individual, this is only worsening the problem. This actually allows the addiction to continue.
This dynamic can blur the lines of accountability, as friends or family members may feel guilty or responsible for the person’s well-being. Remember that enabling only perpetuates the cycle of addiction, creating a sense of codependency. [1]
Over time, this can lead to resentment, emotional exhaustion, and a breakdown in communication and trust.
Communication Problems
Speaking of communication problems, drug abuse and addiction can severely strain communication within families and between friends.
As the person struggling with addiction becomes more consumed by their substance use, their ability to maintain honest and open communication often deteriorates. They may begin to lie or conceal their behavior to hide the extent of their addiction. This of course only leads to mistrust and emotional distancing. [2]
Friends and family members may feel hurt, frustrated, or confused by the person’s behavior, which can lead to arguments and misunderstandings. This breakdown in communication erodes the foundation of relationships, often leaving both the addicted individual and their loved ones feeling disconnected. [2]
Some people begin to shut down as they suffer from the effects of drugs and alcohol. They may choose to isolate themselves out of shame, fear, and guilt. In other cases, they may change their social circle, choosing to spend more time with friends who enable their substance abuse.
The lack of healthy communication can result in resentment or apathy, as loved ones may feel powerless to help or change the situation. [2]
Without open lines of communication, it becomes harder for friends and family to provide support and for the addicted individual to seek help. This creates a cycle of dysfunction that can be difficult to break.
The Effect on Romantic Relationships
Drug abuse and addiction can also significantly strain romantic relationships. The effects mentioned above may impact romantic partners the same way they affect friends, family members, and co-workers. Addiction causes behavioral changes and a shift in priorities. These changes may lead to emotional disconnection, distrust, and conflict.
Partners may also experience feelings of betrayal or frustration as they witness their loved one becoming increasingly consumed by substance use. As the partner repeatedly lies and breaks promises, trust erodes. Over time, the relationship collapses under the weight of constant arguments and misunderstandings.
Mending Relationships After Drug Use
The good news is that, while drugs can strain and even break relationships, healing is possible. Recovery isn’t just about quitting drugs—it’s also about repairing the damage to your relationships.
Rebuilding Trust
Rebuilding trust after drug use is difficult, but it is a crucial step in mending relationships. This process requires honesty and transparency, as individuals must openly acknowledge the past and the impact of their substance use on their loved ones. [3]
It often involves making amends and taking responsibility for actions that have hurt the people around the addicted person. But this can only be achieved by consistently demonstrating reliability over time.
Trust is rebuilt through small, everyday actions like keeping promises and being present. This can help show commitment to change and the restoration of the relationship.
Establishing Healthy Boundaries
Establishing healthy boundaries is essential for both parties involved in a relationship affected by drug use. As much as you may want to reconnect immediately, this is not possible because of the erosion of trust.
Clear boundaries help create a safe space where people can express their needs and concerns without fear of judgment or retribution. This also prevents codependency and enabling behaviors, allowing everyone involved to actually start healing. [1]
Establishing boundaries includes discussing limits regarding behaviors, communications, and emotional availability. This ensures that both parties understand their roles in supporting one another. Healthy boundaries empower individuals to prioritize their well-being, fostering an environment conducive to recovery. [1]
Counseling and Therapy
Achieving all of these may be difficult without proper assistance from medical professionals. You cannot start repairing your relationships without addressing the underlying issue that is drug addiction.
Counseling and therapy play a pivotal role in mending relationships impacted by drug use. Professional guidance provides a structured environment for individuals to explore these underlying issues. During treatment they can learn effective communication strategies and proper coping mechanisms so that they can maintain their sobriety even after they leave rehab.
Therapy can address not only the patient’s substance use but also the relational dynamics that contribute to conflict.
By working through these challenges with a trained therapist, couples and families can cultivate empathy, rebuild emotional connections, and gain tools to navigate the complexities of recovery together, leading to healthier, more resilient relationships.
Overall, there’s no denying that drugs can have a profound effect on your relationships with friends and family. From broken trust to emotional distance, the impact of drug use reaches far beyond the individual using them. However, with time, effort, and a commitment to healing, it’s possible to mend those relationships and rebuild the trust and connection that may have been lost.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug use, remember that you’re not alone. Reaching out for help is the first step toward repairing your relationships and creating a healthier, happier future. Look for a rehab near you today to learn more about the recovery process. The road to long-lasting sobriety begins here.
Sources:
[1]: https://delamere.com/blog/the-impact-of-addiction-on-family-and-relationships
[2]: https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/how-addiction-affects-the-family/
[3]: https://psychcentral.com/addictions/rebuilding-relationships-in-early-recovery
