When Someone You Know Uses Drugs-The Effect

When a child, parent, aunt, uncle, or any other relative or friend uses drugs, the effect it has on the family can be devastating. When a child uses drugs, the parents may feel like it is their fault that their son or daughter became an addict. When a parent uses, a child may feel like they have lost their childhood. I have seen firsthand the toll drugs take on a child when one of their parents use drugs. To some extent, my cousins have lost their childhood as well. One of them-the second oldest-is pretty much like an adult and she is only eight years old. I guess that she thought that she had to step up and act like a parent. She is very protective about her siblings and often treats them as a mother would her children. It is kind of sad to see her have to take this position. My aunt has definitely gotten better recently, I’m not sure if she is still using or not, but my cousin still acts like an adult to some extent; so she has lost out on many childhood experiences to this point. Many children will also feel responsible for their parent’s drug usage as well. They may feel like it is their fault that their children started using, which could affect them for the rest of their lives.