Cactus Rock Farms

Substance Abuse In Your Family!

In families where alcohol or other drugs are being abused, behavior is frequently
unpredictable and communication is unclear. Family life is characterized by chaos as
unpredictability. Behavior can range from loving to withdrawn to crazy. Structures and
rules may be either nonexistent or inconsistent. Children, who may not understand
their parent's behavior, can feel confused and insecure. They love their parents even
those who do not love them enough to stop using.

Despite the sufferings these children endure, many blame themselves for their
parent's substance abuse. They believe it when their parent scream that they won't
drink so much or use other drugs if the children didn't fight, or rooms were kept clean
or grades were better. Some children try to control the drinking or drug use by getting
A's or keeping the house spic and span, or getting along perfectly with their siblings.
Others withdraw, hoping not to create any disturbance that might cause a parent to
drink or use drugs. Few realize that children cannot cause a parent to drink or use
drugs, nor can they cure a parent's substance problem.

Many times, children of substance abusers are frightened. They may be victims of
physical violence or incest. They may also witness violence - frequently alcohol and
other drug abuse goes hand in hand with domestic violence. As a result these
youngsters may suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. These children are not
only frightened for their own well being, but they also harbor the all to real concern
that their parents may get sick or die as a result of the drinking and drug use. They
know that their parent may drive intoxicated, or get into fights on the streets.

Despite the fact that friends can be a buffer for the problems at home, they may avoid
bringing home friends or going out into public with their parents. They may even shy
away from making friends, because they lack basic social skills or out of a profound
fear that someone will find out the truth. They may also find it difficult to make friends
because parents have warned their children to stay away from these youngsters from
troubled families. On the other hand some young people use friends as buffers,
relying on their leadership skills to take on key positions.

If you think your parent drinks too much or is addicted to drugs, here is
something you should think about. YOURSELF!!

When a parent has a drug or alcohol problem, it is awful. Remember you are not the
only kid in the world who has trouble. Most people keep alcoholism and drug abuse a
secret, but the fact is, there are millions of kids with parents just like yours. They go to
your school, live in your neighborhood, and are on your teams and in your clubs. They
just don't talk about it. Like you don't.

Remember talk about it. A lot of kids find that talking about what is happening with a
friend or an adult makes them feel better. There are probably a lot of people you
already know who would be happy to talk to you. Like your teacher, guidance
counselor, a relative, doctor, coach and your best friend.

Cactus Rock Farms mission is to help children of all ages from alcoholic and
substance abusing families reach their full potential by breaking the cycle of parental
substance abuse and reducing the pain and problems that result from parental
addiction.

Cactus Rock Farms

Malvern, Arkansas

501-844-2755
501-732-0446

info@cactusrockfarms.com

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