There are many reasons that a person chooses to enroll in a program at an alcohol abuse center. For some, it is to turn their life around and get started on a new, better, path. For others, the decision is made less for themselves and more for the sake of the important people in their lives. Making the decision to join an addiction program often comes with the realization that your actions are hurting those that you love, particularly those who are the most vulnerable: your children.
Alcohol dependency is an addiction that often consumes a person's life, leaving little time to care for and provide support for children. Even if there is another adult in the house who doesn't drink, the children still have a strong chance of being neglected. Alcohol rehabs can help users realize just how misplaced their priorities have been thanks to their addiction.
One of the less obvious impacts of having an alcoholic parent is that children are more likely to drink themselves. Constant exposure to alcohol paired with an authority figure that frequently drinks sends a message that using is alright to adolescents still in their formative years. Having a child who eventually needs alcohol or drug treatment is the last thing that most parents want.
Children living with an alcoholic parent often face an unstable home life filled with chaos. This type of environment often leads to behavioral problems and depression. While physical abuse sometimes comes hand in hand with alcoholic parents, the mental abuse can be just as damaging in the long run, leading to criminal behavior or stays in drug rehab centers. Parents abusing often have mood swings and rapid changes in their parenting, confusing children who haven't yet developed the ability to cope with this lack of structure. They might even be forced to assume adult responsibilities.
The hard truth is that a person's addiction can do a great deal of damage to lives beyond their own. Enrolling in an alcohol and drug rehab program signals to your loved ones that you're willing to make a change for everyone's sake.