I’M NEVER GOING TO BE LIKE THAT

 

If you have grown up with a parent who abuses alcohol or other drugs, you probably have some pretty strong feelings about drinking and getting high.  Most likely, you’ve told yourself – more than a few times - “I’m never going to be like that!”

 

You already know that substance use is not a harmless pastime.  It can wreak havoc on the person who is using, as well as others around them.  Not all people who drink a lot or use other drugs will become addicted, but there is always a degree of risk involved – no one ever tries drugs or alcohol with the hope that one day they will become addicted.  It just happens.  And if you have a history of substance abuse in your family, you need to know that you are at high risk because of genetics as well as environmental factors.

 

Problems with alcohol or other drugs can begin the first time you start using, especially if you are at risk because of your family history.  Although no two people begin their path to addiction in exactly the same way, there are many similarities in the stories told by alcoholics and drug users. One recovering alcoholic tells her tale:

My first experience with alcohol when I was a teenager was remarkably different from what it was for my friends. Drinking gave me a sense of comfort and relief that I had never felt in my life before. I thought that I had tasted heaven. I felt calm, complete. That was it. I just never wanted to stop feeling those feelings. I would do anything to get them back. I started stealing alcohol from my parent’s liquor cabinet. I even stole from my friends’ houses. I have never been able to drink like most people. I could never get enough.

 

Protecting yourself
Some people whose parents are drug or alcohol dependent feel comfortable drinking responsibly, in moderation.  Others feel more at risk, and prefer to abstain entirely from all substances.  Just remember: you have a right to make this choice and once you find a comfortable way to say "no," your conviction will likely deter other people from harassing you about it.

 

You can minimize your discomfort about and risk for substance abuse by avoiding situations where there is going to be a lot of alcohol or drug use.  Step 1 is to choose friends, partners, and even roommates who share your choices or respect your decisions.  Step 2 is to know that if you’re in a situation where other people’s substance abuse is making you uncomfortable, leave.  You always have choices, even though it might not feel that way.