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Substance use can impact your family life and sometimes you might not even be aware of it. On this page we have examples of how your substance use can affect families. There’s also an exercise where you can think about how substance use might be affecting your own family.
The impact of a weekend on drugs or drinking alcohol may still be felt many days later, leaving you hungover / coming down, tired, run down. Children need attention, structure, and support, and when we’re feeling like this, we can end up being less tolerant and unable to cope.
The strain of multiple stresses spilling out into the family home can lead to shouting, arguments, and violence. You might think you’re shielding your child, but the effect of living in a stressful environment can have huge effects on a child’s development, and potentially life-long effects.
If you’re hungover or on a come-down, you might neglect some aspects of your life and day-to-day duties. For parents, this can include not just your own daily activities but also your parental responsibilities.
Most people who use drugs do not take part in any other criminal behaviour. However buying drugs, and being in possession of drugs, is still a criminal offence, and if you’re caught, this will have massive impact on your family life.
Alcohol and drugs take time to pass through the body. This can have an impact on your daily activities the following day, for example driving.
In the current economic climate, many households are struggling with money. Buying alcohol or drugs is expensive, and this can have a huge impact on household budgets, leaving you struggling to pay for food or energy bills.
Remember that you’re not alone; there are lots of places you can turn for support.
If you’re struggling, you may feel like you’re alone. The first step in getting support may be letting friends or family know how you’re feeling and asking them for help and support.
Children and family support services are here to support you if you feel like you’re struggling. Support can range from light intervention to more intensive support.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help – support services are here to support families to stay together in a safe and happy environment.
To ask for Early Help support, you can call 01642 726004 or email middlesbroughMACH@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
All families need support at some point. Action for Children’s children’s centres help families turn things around in difficult times with practical and emotional support. Find out more on the Action for Children website.
If you’re worried about someone else’s alcohol or drug use, visit the supporting someone else page.
This exercise is to look at substance misuse, the effect it can have on your family, and how you can help reduce this impact.
Think about indirect harm like arguments in the home, losing time with children, or feeling tired when children want to play.
How can it directly or indirectly effect my children?
It costs money, so we can’t go places on a weekend
How could I stop or reduce this harm?
Write down the family budget, making sure we have enough left to do a weekend activity
Who can help me?
Use a budget planning app to make sure all family needs are accounted for before we spend money on alcohol or drugs
Download the worksheet to help you
Unfortunately the worksheet is not fully accessible, but it can be printed out and filled in by hand, or you can do the exercise with a pen and paper or on your phone’s notes app.
