By Dr. Dalal Akoury Dr. Dalal Akoury August 6, 2015

Effects of drug addiction on our social fabric: Possible remedies discussed

The already delicate nature of our social fabric is consistently receiving undue pressure from the illicit use of drugs and the pain is growing day by day. Experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center have time and again reported that the problem of addiction is not only a problem of the individual addict. And therefore besides the known health damage effects, alcohol addiction and drug addiction have an extremely negative social aspect. And that is why we want to focus our discussion on the effects of drug addiction on our social fabric with a view of finding lasting solutions to this enormous problem. To start us off doctor Akoury a veteran expert in addiction confirms that the problem of substance abuse has serious negative impact on such aspects of social life including:

Marriage and interpersonal relationships
Extended family relationships
Education and development
Professional activities and employment
Financial issues and growth
Law-abiding and order in the society

The list above is a mirror of what areas of our social health that is greatly affected by the indulgence in drugs and alcohol abuse. Let us take some time to analyze what is likely to happen in these categories of our social life.

Effects of drug addiction on our social fabric: Marriage and interpersonal relationship

Marriage is very sensitive in every community and any negative effect to it has its way of spilling out to the community. Drug addiction is one way through which this can take place and that is why it is very imperative that we all make all the necessary efforts to protect our marriages. Take for example if one or both partners in marriage are struggling with alcohol and drug abuse there is no doubt that this will impact negatively to this marriage. The introduction of misuse of drugs in marriages will come with very devastating changes like for instance, if your partner was previously a very committed and dedicated to his or her marriage or was easy going, kind, supportive person drugs is likely to change all these good characters into agony, secretive, cruel, arrogant, explosive egoist prone to frequent mood swings from deep apathy to inexplicable joy and aggressiveness thereby distorting the once known harmony in the family.

For the purpose of good health and peace, doctor Dalal Akoury suggest that this can be corrected by making some positive adjustments and compromises where is necessary. Consistent communication with an addict is incredibly hard not only to strangers, but also to close relatives, spouses. The situation becomes even more complicated when children are involved because for children to see either or both of their parents under constant influence of drugs can be extremely traumatizing and devastating for their tender ages. The significance of this will no doubt leave negative imprint on the formation of their future psyche.

Besides that it is very common that drug addicts will always spend a lot and in most cases extravagantly in financing their habits. The result of this is that the family will start seeing some financial problems which may have not been there before the problem of addiction came in and as time lapses, this problem becomes apparent. Before you know it the problem escalates and multiplies into constant financial problems, numerous debts, problems with employment by the freak behavior with frequent violent outburst and paranoia, unwillingness to work, repeated problems with the law – and you will get the ready recipe for almost inevitable divorce. It is very sad that all these changes in personality occur to people who are not the aggressive psychopaths or complete egoists by their nature, but who become ones as a result of drug and alcohol addiction. At this point drugs or alcohol is all they can see, think and do because it has become the meaning and part of their life. Everything else has little importance, or generally regarded as an obstacle to achieving their main goal which is the acquisition of drugs or alcohol.

Effects of drug addiction on our social fabric: Alcohol and drug abuse affects everyone in the family

The families of the victims of drug abuse, especially children, are ashamed of their behavior. They are constantly worried about what their neighbors and friends may think about them and in many cases they don’t know how to solve the situation. Initially in the introduction part of addiction, the drug addict’s relatives surround one with care, trying to show him their love, support, trying to enable him to recognize the problem, the need for treatment and make him do the first step to recovery. However, quite often after making several unsuccessful attempts to persuade them to enroll into a recovery program to no avail, many at time this support fades off and the people they need the most gives up on them and sometimes it can come to the extreme where the victim is expel from the family. Nonetheless doctor Akoury says that that even though in some few selected instances members of the family may chose isolation, professionally isolation doesn’t solve the problem. According to her family support deprivation will leave the addict alone to face his addiction and thus makes the vicious circle closed and the truth is that this is a collective responsibility and getting out of this hell without the help, support and love from the family is impossible.

Effects of drug addiction on our social fabric: Education and employment effects

The prevalence of drug addiction is no doubt escalating to the amazement of many. What is even worrying the most is that the age bracket of those young people getting into drugs is ever increasing? Unless something is done drastically management of addiction may become very difficult. Socially education is very basic and without it there is no hope for a better society tomorrow. Therefore, when discussing the subject addiction in relation to education and employment our young ones come to the fore front. Like for instance a teenager or a young adult with his unformed psyche and immature volitional mechanisms, it will be very difficult to resist the temptation to indulge into smoking, drinking alcohol or to taking drugs. The desire to be part of the “circle”, to try the forbidden fruit, “to be like an adult” can quickly lead to addiction.

As a parent you may not be aware of the signs of addiction more so when you have done your part well in bringing up the children. But it is very important that you have these facts together. Antisocial or irrational behavior, unexplained poor school or college attendance, larceny reports, as well as, poor performance, reduced concentration, lack of motivation for continuing education can be some of the signs of using the drugs. Remember that in many instances expulsion from school, college, university is always as a result of the abuse of substances so whenever this happen, be very watchful and take action immediately should you notice any sign of drug abuse. Finally take note that drugs destroy professional skills. Therefore to protect your investment in your children’s education schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today to get further insights on the best possible ways to go about the emergence of drug addiction in our children today.