Correlation between Adult Attachment Disorders and Drug Abuse
This study has found out that up to 80 percent of children from high risk families with abusive and negligent parents are suffering attachment disorders even until they reach their adulthood. Several factors contributed to this condition are poverty, domestic violence, parents’ history of maltreatment during childhood, depression among other psychological disorders of parents. Many children are deprived of love and protection from their caregivers. Most of the time, these children are left in the unhealthy environment with an devastating array of problems such as emotional, behavioral, social, cognitive, developmental, physical and moral - and growing up to be in the same cycle with their own children.
(http://www.attachmentexperts.com/whatisattachment.html)
In this connection, United States’ statistics shows that 800,000 severe attachment disorder cases have been attended every year by Children Welfare System. This is apart from cases of children from other countries. This kind of disrupted and anxious attachment even associated with emotional and social problems that even cause biochemical consequences in the brain. Various medical researches found that infants deprived of loving touch and security from their parents has high levels of stress hormones, which affect the growth and development of their brains and bodies. This condition even heads off towards aggression and anti social behavior as they grow up. For instance, teenage boys are three times more likely to commit crimes in the society due to attachment difficulties at the early stage of their lives. The worst thing, attachment disorder is transmittable from generation to generation.
(http://www.attachmentexperts.com/whatisattachment.html)
Consequently, attachment disorder is related to drug addiction, in terms of causes, impact to the lives of the people involved, prevention and treatment Twenty-one percent of children from 9 to 17 years old are diagnosed with mental or addictive disorders. . In this case, nowadays, there are 1 out of 10 children and adults in the United States who are suffering severe emotional problems in their families who take medication for depression (Prozac) and ADHD (Ritalin) more than doubled between 1987 and 1996. There have been an increasing 167 percent of murders committed by children and teenagers in the country, as well as 140 percent suicidal cases, which are found out as the third major cause of death among youth today. Similar to the case of drug addiction, 40 percent of adolescents are reported smoking marijuana, as well as 30 percent use other prohibited drugs, so as one-third of them engaged in binge drinking. Most of them are dropped out of school.
(http://www.attachmentexperts.com/whatisattachment.html)
Quartz and Sejnowski (2002), Institute for American Values (2003), and Kids Count (2004) have found that 15 percent of young adults are "disconnected” from school, work, and the society. These young people eventually have very low self-esteem, needy, clingy or pseudo independent, cannot cope up with stress and any challenges in life, lack of self-control, and do not have the capacity to maintain any relationship with other people. The symptoms are manifested through the child’s behavior like defiant, impulsive, destructive, lie and steal, aggressive and abusive, hyperactive, self-destructive, cruel to animals, and irresponsible. (http://www.attachmentexperts.com/whatisattachment.html)
Psychologists said that any child is at risk of attachment disorder if the mother takes drugs or drinks alcohol during pregnancy. Deborah Hage, a therapist specializing in attachment disorder said “Traditionally it has been believed that children who have been orphaned or abused and neglected are the primary victims of poor bonding and attachment in the early years. In our two-income society, however, a new phenomenon has emerged. Children are being overindulged by parents who have more money then time to spend with them. The result is that children are being raised in financially secure, but emotionally empty environments, with little discipline and structure. Currently this most common form of neglect is also the most socially acceptable. The societal ramifications of children who are overindulged and often emotionally left can be as severe as children who are considered attachment disordered due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, and multiple moves”.
(http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/32)
According to Dr. Townsend healing process of the patients with attachment disorders involves two crucial factors. First and foremost is the need to find a safe and warm environment where there is an expression of love and acceptance from people around the patient. Secondly, repair process requires taking risks with the needs of the patient to let him or her connect the unattached parts of him or her by nurturing the individual with love and understanding. Relatively, the Corrective Attachment Parenting has specific goals, and that is to change children’s negative beliefs about themselves, as well as their outlook about their environment and on the people around them.
(http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/32)
References:
(http://www.attachmentexperts.com/whatisattachment.html)
(http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/1/1/32)
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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