When you look at your children, you may see the tilt of their nose that looks just like yours, their chocolate brown eyes identical to their dad’s, and that dimple you’ve seen in every single one of your baby pictures.
Family history is intriguing, and seeing all the physical traits passed on for generations is endearing.
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Then, there are things passed down that you can’t see. Increased risk for heart disease, certain cancers, and possible addiction. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, gambling, or any other addiction, family history matters. If you have a family history of addiction, you must be aware of it and educate your children on what addiction is, how it progresses, and how best to avoid it.
Being Open with Your Children About the Risks
A great time to have a meaningful discussion with your children about their family history of addiction is just before they enter junior high school. As young as it sounds, middle school is often where kids get exposed to alcohol and other substances.
Scripts for Talking to Your Kids:
- “We have a family history of addiction, which means you are more likely to end up with a problem than your friends who don’t have this in their family.”
- “There’s no way to know exactly how our family history affects your genetics.”
- “This is why it is important to stay away from drugs and alcohol.”
For your older kids, focus on how your family history might impact their use. Here are some scripts for older teens.
- “Everyone’s brain is different. Some are more prone to developing substance abuse disorder than others, especially in families with a history of addiction like ours.”
- “Just because you see other friends using substances without getting addicted doesn’t mean that will be the case for you. Your first experience with substances may escalate to addiction quickly.”
- “It often takes time to develop an addiction, which can be deceiving. It may seem like you are just like the other kids using drugs, but then, addiction can come out of nowhere and lead to a downward spiral. Substances will always be a concern for you because of your genes. You can never develop an addiction if you never touch it, so it will be beneficial for you to stay away from it altogether.”
If your child is adopted, you may be unaware of their family history. In this case, it’s best to stay on the safe side and have conversations about the potential of having a predisposition to addiction.
The Risk of Abusing Prescription Medication
If a history of addiction runs in your family, be careful with prescription medication. Explain to your children that prescription medications can be very addictive. Make sure to tell your child’s prescribing physician about your family history and ask if alternative treatments are available. Prescription medications that may present an increased risk for addiction include:
- Pain relievers that contain opioids such as Percocet and Vicodin
- Tranquilizers and sedatives that contain anti-anxiety medications like Klonopin and Xanax or sleep aids such as Ambien and Lunesta
- Stimulants that treat ADHD, such as Ritalin and Adderall
How to Protect Your Child Against Addiction
If you’ve lived with substance abuse disorder or have been close to someone with it, you know you will do anything in your power to prevent your child from falling into the same deep, dark, and lonely waters.
Your child’s family history is only part of their story. Just because they have this in their genes doesn’t mean they’re doomed. Many environmental and mental factors can also affect someone’s relationship with substances, whether positively or negatively.
Talk to your children about the power of influence. Ask them to identify what qualities, characteristics, assets, and skills they admire among their family members. Ask them what they would want to carry on and what cycles they would want to break. This will help them think about which decisions will lead to which outcomes. Talk to your children about each family member’s decisions that got them where they are today. This will show the correlation between decisions (big and little) and long-term well-being.
One of the best defenses against your child developing an addiction is being aware and involved in parenting and:
- Monitoring their activities (on and offline)
- Getting to know their friends
- Keeping track of their whereabouts (Life360 or Find My Friends are great tracking apps)
- Address any mental health problems they may have
- Be a good example and cope with stress in healthy ways
- Encourage a love for school and extracurricular activities
- Hone in on their strengths and hobbies
- Keep their pediatrician in the loop about family history
- Be a good listener and make yourself available to talk
Get Help Right Away
Sometimes, addiction seems to open its mouth and swallow our children whole before we can even catch our breath. Sometimes, shame and embarrassment cause parents to sweep their problem under the rug, try to deal with it secretly, and slap a smile on like everything is peachy keen. Your child’s well-being is more important than your family image. If they are struggling with substances, they need help. The sooner they receive help from a substance abuse rehab, the better. The longer you wait, the more they can spiral and destroy their life.
Being a parent is a whirlwind of worry and emotion because you love your children. Their happiness is everything to you. As their safe space and biggest fan, you can be the most prominent advocate for your child. Have important talks, intervene when necessary, and don’t look the other way when you notice unusual behavior. If you’re at the point of googling “addiction facilities near me,” we’re proud of you for taking the first step toward your child’s recovery, and we can help. Contact our addiction treatment center serving SLC, St. George, and Vernal.
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