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Many people have loved ones are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And these people have a lot of questions about addiction. Perhaps the most common, the most predominant questions of all concern the causes of addiction. After all, no one expects a loved one to become a drug addict or an alcoholic.

Before addiction strikes in a family, virtually everyone in the family has the same perspective toward drug and alcohol abuse. The prevailing belief goes something like this: “It won’t happen to my child/spouse/sibling/parent/relative/friend.” So it almost always comes as a great shock for someone to find out that yes, it did happen to one of those people.

The simple truth is this…addiction can—and does—happen to anyone. Young people, even kids younger than age 10 can become addicted to crystal meth. Senior citizens can become alcoholics. A parent or spouse may become addicted to pain-killing prescription drugs. Teenagers may try heroin one time at a party and suddenly find that they are addicted to the drug. People of every age, every race, and every income level become addicted to drugs and alcohol every day.

People don’t like to believe this simple truth, though. Many people believe that they can shield their children from drugs and alcohol by moving to better neighborhoods or sending their children to private schools. But, what these people do not realize is that drugs and alcohol are everywhere. Even the best, most exclusive schools and neighborhoods have problems with drugs and alcohol.

But, the situation isn’t hopeless. To fight substance abuse, people need to understand it. And, if people accept that addiction can happen to anyone, that is the first step toward understanding it. People also need to talk openly about drugs and alcohol. Encourage an open dialogue within the family so that kids will be more trusting about talking to people when they are faced with drug- or alcohol-related issues. If kids feel as if they can talk to an adult when another student at school offers them heroin, perhaps they will do the right thing and turn it down and come home and talk about it. Kids who feel as if the topic of drugs and alcohol is taboo at home may just decide to rebel and try the heroin. Of course, that may not be the case, but having an open household where everyone is free to talk about anything without fear of persecution or lectures is the best policy.

Finally—and most importantly—if drug addiction or alcoholism does strike in your family, deal with it calmly. Get help. Search this site for tips on interventions and treatment centers. Don’t blame yourself or anyone else—that is counterproductive and will not solve anything. Just work together as a family to love and help the addicted person.

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