What to do if You Have an Addicted Parent

Why this resource is helpful:

"When any type of family member suffers with an addiction, it's heart wrenching. It's even worse when it's your parent. Perhaps this is a situation you're currently dealing with in your own life. You're desperate to find a way to help your addicted parent; you just don't know where to begin.

Let's talk about ways that you can become more active in this situation. There may be more ways to help than you think.

Addiction and Your Parents
"There's nothing that can compare to the stress of having an addicted parent. This is someone who was your caregiver since you were a baby. You've looked up to this person for your entire life. Now, they're making decisions that you don't agree with, and you don't know what to do.

"For me, the problem I had was with my dad. I remember him using when I was young, but just barely. I think my mom tried to shield me from it as much as she could. By the time I was a teenager, the drug and alcohol use had gotten way out of control. It got to the point where my parents had to separate, and he still continued to use. Actually, I think that was when he started getting into the harder drugs. Heroin and crystal meth were his drugs of choice; along with the alcohol, of course.

"Today, not much has changed. My dad looks about 20 years older than he is. He appears to be wasting away, but he's not motivated to do anything to change it. It breaks my heart to see him in this state, and I can't help but feel hopeless. I wish there was something I could do to help him. My biggest fear is that he's too far gone, and that it's too late for him."

When you have an addicted parent, it can turn your entire world upside down. It doesn't matter if your parent used when you were a child or not. If the addiction is new or old, as an adult, it's still a difficult situation to cope with.

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