The Forgotten Victims of America's Narcotics Epidemic: Families and Children

The Forgotten Victims of America's Narcotics Epidemic: Families and Children The narcotics epidemic in America has been a major concern for years, with millions of people affected by addiction and overdose. However, while the focus has been on the individuals struggling with addiction, there is another group of victims that often goes unmentioned: families and children. The Impact on Families Families are often the unseen victims of addiction. They may struggle to cope with the emotional and financial burden of a loved one's addiction, and may even enable the addiction unintentionally. According to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 1 in 5 families in the US has a member who struggles with addiction. The Impact on Children Children are also deeply affected by the narcotics epidemic. They may grow up in households where addiction is present, and may even be forced to take on caregiving roles for their parents. According to the US Department of Heal...