children and parents’ addiction; preventive intervention for drug abusing families

all people who are active in the field of psychiatry have witnessed upset and disturbed faces of children of substance dependent parents. these children suffer from depression, feelings of shame and low self-esteem and often cope with unhealthy defense mechanisms. most of the times, the addiction problem is kept as a secret and parents mistakenly assume they could keep out their children from this painful problem of the family. such stressful family atmosphere not only lets children express their feelings and opinions, but also deprives them from a clear understanding of drugs and its consequences. therefore, such children are susceptible to substance abuse and other behavioral and psychological damages. this article discusses expert’s opinions in this regard and how to support and prevent further damages in such families.