Did you grow up with (a) parent(s) struggling with an addiction?

Question

How did/does it affect your life?
Do you think people are more likely to become addicts if they grow up around people who are?

Answer

My mother was an alcoholic & heavy smoker. Ruined our relationship & her marriage. I do not smoke, think it's disgusting. I also rarely drink, have a beer every once in a while. I personally do not believe that just because a parent makes stupid decisions that the child will too 🤷

Answer

My mother was an Opioid addict. To the point she would try to get me and my father to fake injury to get heavy painkillers from the Dr.
I never wanted to be like her and made a point of not following in her footsteps. I won't take anything stronger than Tylenol now as an adult and steer clear of addictive substances.

Answer

My mother had a drinking problem. It wasn't uncommon for her to blow all their saved Christmas money for me and my brother at the bar buying everyone drinks, because she's loose with cash when she's drunk. I got used to not getting anything for my birthday from a very young age. Got used to not really having any food in the fridge so would have to make "wonder sandwiches". Which was just bread with condiments in it and you daydream that you're eating something else because that's just all we had. And don't even get me started on the fights. She would constantly start screaming matches with my father or try to get me to fist fight her. Forced me to drink alcohol when I was like 10 (sat on me and forced the straw in my mouth and wouldn't let me move til I drank it). Just loads of shit

Answer

My dad was a functioning alcoholic. He held down the same job for over 20 years, but every night he would come home and drink when everyone else went to sleep. The most disturbing part of it all to me was seeing how it effected my parents. My mom would cry and scream every time she found him drinking, and sometimes we’d have to go over to my grandparents’ house in the middle of the night. And I knew my dad’s heart was breaking. My parents were very close to divorcing and it was talked about every week. He’s been sober for over 5 years now. He quit cigarettes and alcohol the same year. I’m so proud of him, he is so much happier and healthier. I think he finally let go of his past. As for me, seeing how it hurt my parents makes me even more wary of addiction. I don’t want to experience it ever again.

Answer

Not technically an addiction but I will always feel it was.
My mother was addicted to relationships. She couldn’t be alone. Any guy that showed interest in her she would transform herself into what she believed they wanted. Her personality could change in an instant. One second she’s a starving artist, then she’s a badass biker chic, then she’s a demure little homemaker. A lot of the guys were on drugs or dealt drugs or worse. I was introduced to a lot of horrible things at a very young age. It was scary and unpredictable and at one point she had 2 guys living in our house because she wanted them to “fight for her love”.
It fucked me up for a while and I had some messed up relationships for a while but after therapy I was able to see how damaged she was and that none of her relationships were normal.

Answer

Not addiction but my dad was violent af

Answer

My mom is a recovering alcoholic and meth/heroin addict. 
My father still drinks and smokes pot but was an opiate addict. 
My parents separated when I was 18, just before I graduated highschool. My mom took my brother and left, my dad stuck around but was in and out of jail. My entire life was flipped upside down...
My dad was caught up with residential burglary, trafficking stolen property and multiple counts of firearm theft. He was looking at 50+ years prison time. He was deferred thru drug court, went to treatment for 9 months and completed a year of intensive out patient. Prior to this he was severely beaten with a golf club by my grandma's husband, he almost died and has not quite been the same after all the drugs and damage to his brain from that assault. He's made a complete 360 with his life since all that and we have always maintained a decent relationship. When he was using I kept my distance after I realized I was enabling him. Today we have no issues and I'm so proud of him. 
My mother continued to run and gun until she was wanted for three counts of delivery of heroin. I stopped speaking to her for a year until a woman she was in jail with reached out to me to let me know she had been extradited from Colorado back to Washington. She was released from prison May 2018. She has remained clean and sober, has a good job and we have rebuilt our relationship. 
My brother is also an addict and struggles with his sobriety and the law but I am proud of how far he has come.
Prior to my parents separating I was already drinking and using drugs. I was allowed to party as long as I kept my grades up. When they separated and I had no one to answer to it got out of control until my mid20s. I knew if I didn't stop I'd be locked up or dead.
I've been clean and sober since 3/30/2015 and am working on becoming a tribal police officer.

Answer

I think everyone reacts differently to situations in their own way! I had distant family super crazy, all drugys, always problems with the cops. My 3 cousins who all grew up with the same family in the same situation all handled it differently. The oldest became a probation officer, hates drugs and does not talk to the family anymore. The middle one got into drugs himself and has been in and out of jail for a while. And the youngest is still close to the family but doesn’t use drugs. In my own situation. My dad was a heroine addict. I never new this growing up. He hid it well, never did it in front of us or got “too high”. He always held a job and provided for my stay at home mm, and my 3 other siblings. When I began high school, I guess that’s where it took over more, he lost his job and we moved to the projects from our nice big home in a fancy neighborhood. It was a huge change! From there he got arrested and had to serve 6 years. We moved states and continued life. It’s been years now. I love my dad. He is clean and sober now. I forgive him, I know drugs are addicting and can take over your life. He feels bad about how things happened and that ruining his relationship with my mom. I go visit my dad every year and have a good relationship with him. My other siblings, 2 older and one younger, hold resentment against him and haven’t talked to him in years! We all have our different looks on it. I don’t do drugs and sometimes do feel bad when I see homeless people asking for money or struggling cause it reminds me of my dad. I’m glad he’s clean and sober and we have a good relationship. If I have spare change I always give. I would never do drugs. He also smoked a lot! I hated it as a kid but I smoke cigareetes here and there now.

Answer

My mum is alcohol dependant. Her parents were alcoholics. Her siblings are/were drug addicts and alcoholics. I dont drink at all. Was horrible watching them all growing up. Dont take drugs either but I smoke tobacco. Parents didnt smoke.

Answer

Mother was a heavy smoker and drinker. 
Tried both and hate smoking indefinitely but drinking is for occasions like holidays or if we’re feeling extra on a date. 
It broke me the way she abused me when she would get black out drunk, and the way she would fall everywhere and be sloppy and slutty in front of my brother and I. 
It killed me for her to blow smoke in my face after asking her if she could try and stop smoking. 
My relationship with her isn’t strong but I still love her, I just choose to stay away from her. She’s not always a bad person like most addicts. 
My brother and I chose to stay away from that stuff. We’ve seen firsthand what it does and it’s not worth it.

Did you grow up with (a) parent(s) struggling with an addiction?

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