- Feb 8
- AddictionDrug Addiction Treatment
In a healthy parent-child relationship, your mom would have been a source of shelter, emotional support and security. Sadly, drug use stood in the way of that connection.
Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive drug with out-of-control psychiatric side effects. While the drug is dangerous to users, the effects of meth use on the children of drug addicts cannot be understated. Children of meth-addicted mothers are often exposed to traumatic experiences that no child should face.
If you were raised by a mom on drugs, that’s not the end of your story. You may feel scared or hopeless, but you can help your mom confront her methamphetamine addiction. And by pointing her toward recovery treatment, you may discover a deeper sense of healing for yourself.
How Parental Substance Abuse Impacts Children
Parents influence the people we become. Moms especially make a huge impression on our behaviors, habits, values and communication styles. Drugs like meth create a home defined by chaos.
Drug-addicted mothers may not mean to hurt their loved ones, but meth use creates situations with severe effects on children. Meth causes people to behave in unpredictable, dangerous ways. It’s highly addictive, and it promotes a binge-and-crash cycle of use. You may have seen your mom staying high and awake for days at a time. Maybe you also witnessed erratic, bizarre behaviors when she was high.
Meth use can also result in a rapid breakdown in parenting. If you had a meth-addicted mother, you might have experienced:
- A chaotic home life
- Inadequate supervision
- Chronic neglect
- Inconsistent parenting
- Parental aggression
- Violence
- Physical, verbal or sexual abuse from a parent or others
- Role reversal, where you assumed the role of the caregiver for your mom
The Challenges Faced By Children of Meth Users
The effects of growing up with a meth-addicted mother don’t end once you reach adulthood. When drug abuse defines your home life, you have a higher risk of developing chronic mental and physical health problems as an adult. You’re more likely to experience issues like:
- Low self-esteem
- Poor performance in school or at work
- Emotional and behavior disorders
- Higher risk of developing a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety
- Inherent distrust of authority
- Early experimentation with drugs or alcohol
- Using drugs or alcohol to cope with emotional trauma
- Greater risk of developing a substance use disorder
On a positive note — as the child of a meth-addicted parent, you have experienced horrible situations, but you have survived. This resilience shows that you have the strength and resources to go on and live a productive, meaningful life.
How to Deal With a Mother Addicted to Drugs
As the child of someone addicted to meth, it can feel impossible to know the right thing to do. When you were young, you may have been scared that your mom would be taken away by the authorities. Now that you’re an adult, you probably wish your mom would get better without your help. Or, maybe after all you’ve been through, you’ve had enough of the chaos that surrounds your mother’s drug misuse.
The good news is that you can have a powerful impact on your mom. By standing up and saying something, you could deliver the wake-up call she needs to change her life.
Here are some ways you can help your mom if she struggles with a methamphetamine addiction:
- Try to understand that addiction is a disease. It’s important to realize that addiction is a chronic disease. This drug has hijacked your mother’s brain and continues to hold her mind and motivations captive.
- Talk to your mom when she is sober. Be gentle but persistent. Avoid blame or bringing up the past. If your mom refuses to talk about her addiction, try again. Hopefully, you’ll eventually get through.
- Ask questions. The point of talking to your mom is to help her reach the conclusion that she needs help. So ask questions, don’t act disapproving and hear her out with patience.
- Stage an intervention. Gather other people who care about your mom and confront her about her meth use. When she hears how her drug addiction has impacted those she loves, she may be more open to the truth.
Find Help for Your Mom Struggling With Meth Addiction
Getting your mom the help she needs begins with evidence-based methamphetamine addiction treatment. At Gateway Foundation, we specialize in highly personalized drug rehab that helps individuals find their path to recovery. With the help of our compassionate team, your mother can confront her addiction and overcome it. Contact us today to learn more.
