Adolescent Drug Addiction and Its Impact on the Mental Health of Parents

Society is considered a space for human gathering and a framework for human existence. No one can deny that the individuals living within any society interact with each other, and this interaction leads to a set of relationships. This means that humans, in general, are beings who are influenced by others, particularly their family members, while simultaneously influencing them. Thus, the family is considered the primary institution of socialization responsible for the care and upbringing of a child from birth. During our lives within our families, a set of relationships is established between us and our parents, between us and our siblings, and between us and other family members. Consequently, every individual interacts with family members and is affected by them, while family members also interact with and are affected by them.

For example, if a family faces a crisis or a sudden event, it will undoubtedly affect all family members without exception. A clear example of this is when a family discovers that one of its children has become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is a widespread issue among adolescents, as this stage of life is characterized by a series of changes affecting all aspects of development (physical, sexual, intellectual, emotional, moral, and social). These changes and transformations lead to maturation and the completion of development. During adolescence, teenagers seek to break from parental authority and may rebel against it. His interests and social relationships expand, and he begins seeking to form new relationships with friends and peers. Mental life during adolescence involves the restructuring of an individual's thoughts and the emergence of a new level of cognitive activity known as conventional and abstract thinking (Sohair, 1999).

An adolescent's imitation of a bad company may lead him to fall into the trap of drug addiction, driven by curiosity and the desire to conform. At this point, the adolescent becomes addicted to drugs.

Therefore, the presence of a person with an addiction in any family, whether one of the parents or one of the children, shakes the family's stability and threatens its security. In addition, drug addiction is characterized by behavioural disturbances and emotional disturbances, which cause anxiety and tension within the family. Moreover, drug addiction is characterized by mental, social, emotional, moral, and religious immaturity. He has a sexually dysfunctional personality, poor

Issue 2, Vol. 8, 2025, IMCR adaptability, neurotic tendencies, introversion, anxiety, narcissism, selfishness, impulsiveness, dependence, and aggressiveness (Ijlal Mohamed Sari, 2003, p. 1).

Consequently, the family finds accepting and adapting to the incident brutal. Despair, anxiety, and frustration dominate its members, particularly parents, as they are the closest people to the drug-addicted adolescent.

To examine the impact of drug addiction on the family environment, we conducted a study involving a group of parents, both mothers and fathers, whose adolescent children were addicted to drugs. From this, we can raise the following central questions related to the current research problem:

• 4-    Does adolescent drug addiction cause psychological suffering and pain to parents?

• 4    In other words, how does adolescents’ drug addiction affect the mental health of their

parents?

Hypotheses of the Study

• 4-    Adolescent drug addiction may cause anxiety in parents.

• 4-    Adolescent drug addiction may cause feelings of guilt in parents.

Significance of the Study

The phenomenon of drug addiction is one of the major problems of the present era, and adolescents are considered the most affected age group, as many teenagers are now using drugs and consuming hallucinogenic pills. Therefore, the importance of this study lies in its focus on one of the most dangerous and widespread social issues worldwide, with significant implications for the family dynamics of adolescents addicted to drugs.

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of adolescent drug addiction on parents. In other words, this study aims to investigate the effects of addiction on the mental health of parents and to reveal the suffering of these parents after they discover that one of their children is using drugs. This includes examining the presence of anxiety and feelings of guilt experienced by parents.

Operational Definitions of the Study Terms

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Addiction: Addiction refers to an individual's habitual behaviour towards a specific act or habit, where they find themselves compelled to engage in it and cannot stop. They experience anxiety and tension if they are unable to perform the behaviour.

Drug Addiction: Drug addiction refers to the continued and persistent consumption of a drug or a group of drugs, coupled with an inability to stop using them. There is a strong desire to obtain drugs by any means, and individuals may increase the dosage to achieve the desired effects.

Adolescents: An adolescent is an individual who has reached the stage of adolescence after passing through childhood. During adolescence, individuals undergo various transformations and changes that affect all aspects of their development. These changes can influence their behaviour, potentially leading to rebellion, disobedience, aggression, and, in some cases, deviant behaviours such as drug addiction.

Mental health: Mental health refers to an individual's ability to cope with life pressures and crises and adapt to these challenges without suffering harmful effects. This condition is affected when parents experience emotional distress due to their adolescent child's drug addiction.

Anxiety: Anxiety is considered a manifestation of maladaptation to life stresses and is characterized by persistent worry about these pressures and an inability to cope with them. For example, parents of adolescent individuals with drug addiction are preoccupied with their child's addiction, resulting in anxiety. Anxiety is often accompanied by various physical changes, such as an increased heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and trembling in the limbs.

Feelings of Guilt: Guilt arises when an individual believes that they have committed wrong against themselves or others. They begin to blame themselves and attempt to punish themselves. This is evident when parents of adolescents with drug addiction feel responsible for what has happened to their children.

. Adolescence

Adolescence is considered one of the most significant stages in human life, as it involves a series of changes that affect growth. During this phase, an individual transitions from childhood to adulthood, becoming fully grown and mature. Researchers William Masters and Ralph Stetter define adolescence as "the transition from childhood to maturity, where the innocence of childhood gradually fades and is replaced step by step by the features of maturity" (Sarhan et al., 2008, p. 132).

Moreover, adolescence is a developmental phase that separates childhood from adulthood and is characterized by biological transformations (Mialert, 1979, p. 7). During this period, adolescents may face challenges in understanding the changes they are experiencing across various aspects of

Sci. Educ. Innov. Context Mod. Probl. P-ISSN: 2790-0169 E-ISSN: 2790-0177 Issue 2, Vol. 8, 2025, IMCR development, including physical, sexual, intellectual, emotional, and social growth. The period is complex and ambiguous, often resulting in adolescents feeling insecure and unstable. Consequently, this instability may lead them to rebel, defy authority, and even engage in deviant behaviours.

Furthermore, "adolescence is not an ideal stage free from crises and psychological and social pressures. The disturbances experienced by adolescents during this phase stem from the nature of relationships and the upbringing methods employed" (Atta Karim, 2014, p. 31). As a result, the adolescent crisis consists of a series of disturbances that the adolescent experiences as a result of the growth changes they undergo.

"Adolescents experience explosive growth in their minds, thoughts, bodies, perceptions, and emotions, which can be summarized as a type of volcanic growth" (El-Milady, 2015, p. 61). "Adolescence continues with the expansion of the ego and the attempt to establish an identity in work, love, cultural activities, and transcendence" (Feddida, 1924, p. 23).

• 2.    Drug Addiction

  Drug addiction has become the only way for many adolescents to cope with the demands of life and the pressures they face. In an attempt to relax and relieve stress, these adolescents find themselves trapped in a cycle of searching for and using drugs. Furthermore, "addiction is the continued consumption of a certain substance or engagement in specific activities for an extended period with the intention of achieving a state of euphoria and escaping sadness and depression" (Eissawy, 1993, p. 107). The World Health Organization defines addiction as a state of intoxication or poisoning caused by drugs, whether temporary or chronic, resulting from the repeated use of a psychoactive substance (Qaddafi, 2011, p. 235).

In addition, drug addiction refers to the strong attachment of a person with an addiction to a substance to the extent that they cannot refrain from consuming it or reducing the dosage. "Drug addiction means dependence on the psychoactive substance" (Mevel, 2005, p. 16). A drug is a substance that, when consumed by a living organism, has specific effects on cells (Saleh, 2006, p. 55).

As such, drug addiction refers to the body’s adaptation to a drug or substance, leading to a state of dependence and attachment to the substance. "Psychological dependence is the sense of satisfaction

Sci. Educ. Innov. Context Mod. Probl. P-ISSN: 2790-0169 E-ISSN: 2790-0177 Issue 2, Vol. 8, 2025, IMCR when using the addictive substance and the intense desire to repeat its use in order to achieve the desired effect or to eliminate an unwanted feeling" (Baqion, 2007, p. 143).

Moreover, psychological dependence manifests in the feelings of comfort and euphoria that a person with an addiction seeks, which are induced by drugs or medications. "Physical or physiological dependence is a state of adaptation that occurs towards a particular substance due to continuous and repeated use" (Baqion, 2007, p. 144). Physical dependence refers to the body's adaptation to a drug that a person with an addiction has become accustomed to using.

Consequently, many adolescents fall into the vicious cycle of drug addiction, and their families reject their addictive behavior, oppose their reckless actions, and complain about their defiance, rebellion, and aggression. Davis and Stelke (1972) noted that adolescent drug addicts may share a common factor: parents who oppose the consumption of alcohol (Shaheen, 2001, p. 74).

Moreover, "Family members may dislike the addict, but at a certain point, the addict becomes a part of the family, and here the family members find themselves in a dilemma" (Ahmed, 2008, p. 76).

Drug addiction is a serious problem that negatively impacts people with an addiction themselves and those around them, resulting in devastating and harmful effects on the psychological and social well-being of both people with an addiction and their families. "Many of the addict's behaviors are rejected by the other family members, and they may stay up late into the night, which causes fear and anxiety within the addict’s family" (Abu Zeid, 2003, p. 241).

• 3.    The Family Environment

• 4.    Mental health

  Adding a family member, whether one of the parents or a child, is considered an unexpected and sudden event that changes the lived reality within the family. "Change is a factual reality in our lives, and the inevitability of change requires individuals to prepare psychologically and emotionally for it" (Askar, 2003, p. 86).

Low socioeconomic status and unstable or deteriorating family conditions can play a significant role in pushing some family members toward drug use and addiction. On the other hand, drug addiction can lead to the deterioration of family circumstances, threatening family stability and security.

Furthermore, the family plays a crucial role in shaping the child’s personality. It is responsible for determining their behaviour, temperament, and actions. "Just as the family is the foundation of life, it also forms the basis of mental health and its starting point" (Hegazy, 2004, p. 117). "The family is a group of individuals who are united and connected by intergenerational relationships, relying on each other" (El-Hanafi, 1995, p. 29).

Moreover, the foundation of a family is cohesion and solidarity, which results in strong and healthy relationships among all members. In contrast, conflicts and disputes lead to family disintegration and collapse. Undoubtedly, the family environment is affected by various crises and events it faces, creating an atmosphere of tension and conflict. As a result, this leads all family

Issue 2, Vol. 8, 2025, IMCR members—whether parents or children—to suffer, experience pain, and complain about their reality, making it difficult for them to confront and adapt to the crisis they are facing.

"The family is a social environment that is influenced both positively and negatively by the degree of adaptation and adjustment to the changes that occur in its structure" (Abdel Hamid, 2016, p. 226). In addition, "Psychologists have argued that mental health requires positive adaptation to both the self and the environment" (Jibril et al., 2016, p. 16).

Consequently, mental health reflects positive adaptation to the external environment, selfacceptance, and avoidance of self-deprecation or rejection. Deviant and abnormal behaviours are considered indicators of mental health disturbances, which can be attributed to various causes and factors. "Psychological studies focus on deviant behaviour as an individual acting in isolation and aim to identify the various factors that led to their deviation" (Hegazy, 1995, p. 15).

Furthermore, the presence of specific individuals in our lives and their support help us live in peace and maintain mental health, as they provide a sense of security and tranquillity. "In the psychological life of an individual, the other person plays an important role as a model, subject, opponent, and helper" (Abbas, 1991, p. 279).

Moreover, one of the signs of mental health is the absence of emotional and psychological disturbances. Daily crises and problems influence our mood, emotions, and psychological state. They often lead to significant suffering, manifesting as discomfort, unease, tension, anger, and dissatisfaction. "Painful and unpleasant events trigger negative moods that reflect fatigue and a sense of distress, expressed through verbal expressions such as anger, irritation, sorrow, and feelings of frustration and tension" (Al-Rashidi, 1999, p. 38).

• 5.    Anxiety

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  When a family faces crises and hardships, it alters the prevailing circumstances within the household. Conflicts, disputes, and disagreements take over, making family members feel insecure and anxious. "Anxiety is a response to the threat of losing something, and it is something we feel, which we call a disturbed emotional state" (Al-Jamous, 2013, p. 117).

• 6.    Feelings of Guilt

  Failure and discomfort can lead any individual to experience despair and disappointment. This may cause them to blame themselves and constantly think they are responsible for everything that has happened. "A troubled personality that has experienced failure in achieving the tasks of various life stages falls into sorrow and despair due to the loss and waste of life" (Hegazy, 2004, p. 46).

In addition, "In most cases, anxiety is a simple emotional response that anyone can feel when exposed to a situation that triggers this emotional reaction" (Al-Sherbini, 2015, p. 16). Furthermore, "Anxiety is an intense fear, more severe, with clear physiological manifestations. Simple anxiety, according to Freud, is related to repression" (Mounin, 1999, p. 19).

Moreover, anxiety is a natural emotional response, and its sources are numerous. It represents reactions to situations and events that a person faces. In other words, anxiety is a response or reaction to specific situations, events, and stimuli. "Psychologists state that severe psychological crises and intense emotional shocks resulting from an individual’s relationships with others, whether at home, school, work, or in society, are challenges and difficulties that can easily push someone into a state of distress, tension, and anxiety" (Al-Nuwaiseh, 2013, p. 28).

As a result, "Psychological conflicts arising from addiction can, in turn, transform into psychological stress factors that add to those that led the person to addiction" (Al-Nabulsi, 1988, p. 50). When a family faces crises or unfortunate events, it creates an atmosphere of tension and anxiety, fearing the worsening and development of the situation.

"Among the diseases that family members of addicts suffer from is denial of the addiction, which prevents them from addressing the problem, such as migraines, indigestion, and irritability that emerge at inappropriate times and places" (Abu Zeid, 2003, p. 241).

Although anxiety is a natural emotional response in our lives and may occur due to exposure to distressing situations, it can be a destructive emotion that may lead to numerous physical illnesses and disorders in the individual’s ability to adapt.

Moreover, "Self-blame means that an individual comes to the realization that they are responsible for themselves and their mistakes and that this self requires taming, refinement, and upbringing" (Abdel Ghafoor, 2015, p. 17). Some individuals may experience guilt when they face certain

Issue 2, Vol. 8, 2025, IMCR events in their lives. They may regret what has happened and try to fix things and atone for their mistakes. Others may feel ashamed of what has befallen them.

In addition, "feelings of guilt are the painful awareness of committing a mistake or violating the law, as well as breaching moral and religious principles" (Sillamy, 1983, p. 76). However, many of our families still categorize some diseases as scandals, resorting to hiding the illness or, at times, hiding the patient themselves instead of seeking treatment (Al-Nabulsi, 1988, p. 47).

Furthermore, "Family members may believe that they are responsible for the addiction of one of their members, but this belief is incorrect. It stems from the assumption that there are fundamental flaws in their personalities and behaviours, which justify the addict's continued drug use" (Abu Zeid, p. 252). Some parents may attribute the problem of addiction in one of the family members to their mistaken behaviours, parenting methods, neglect, and failure to monitor and accompany their children.

Research Methodology

The methodology refers to the approach followed by the researcher in conducting the study or research to reach the desired scientific truth, including description, interpretation, and measurement. To examine the presence of anxiety and feelings of guilt in the mother of an adolescent addicted to drugs, we employed a clinical method to assess her suffering and to identify the extent of anxiety and feelings of guilt she experienced.

Research Tools

We used one of the clinical methodologies, namely, the case study method. This involved conducting interviews and observations, designing a questionnaire, validating it, and administering it to the studied case.

Study Sample

Since the study aims to explore the presence of anxiety and feelings of guilt in the parents of adolescents addicted to drugs, the study sample consisted of one case: the mother of an adolescent addicted to drugs.

Spatial boundaries of the study

This study was conducted at the Rehabilitation and Reform Institution, Oran.

Temporal Boundaries of the Study

The study was carried out from March 2024 to September 2024.

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Results of the Study

• 1.    Case Presentation

• •    Gender: Female

• •    Age: 42 years

• 2.    Case Description

• 3.    Application of the Questionnaire

From the first interview, it was clear that the case was experiencing severe fear and anxiety, as she began the conversation with the phrase: “I am now afraid for my son, and I do not know where he is." Throughout the interviews, she repeated, "Who can I turn to with my sorrow and sadness? What has happened to me?"

The patient could not sit still and was constantly moving, frequently attempting to stand and repeating the phrase “How can I possibly calm down?”

Each time, the case questioned whether her adolescent son’s addiction crisis could be overcome, frequently asking about the possibility of his treatment and recovery. She often repeated, “I cannot stop thinking about my son, not even for a minute.”

Notably, she appeared very fatigued, with her eyes watering each time she said, “I feel like I can’t control myself, and I feel like I am about to collapse.”

During our conversation with her, she would hold her head in her hands and say, “I feel like my heart will stop beating.” She also asked repeatedly about what had driven her son to addiction, saying once, “I feel like I never neglected my duties towards my son, and I still don’t understand what drove him to this.”

In response to our question about her sleep, she said, “I haven’t known the taste of sleep since I discovered that my son was using drugs.”

• A.    Anxiety Questionnaire

After the questionnaire was administered, the case score was 60, indicating a high level of anxiety.

• B.    Feelings of the Guilt Questionnaire

After the questionnaire was administered, the case score was 54, indicating a moderate level of guilt.

Discussion of the Results and Interpretation

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The patient exhibited constant movement, could not relax or calm, and suffered from sleep disturbances. She could not control herself and felt like her heart was about to stop. These are signs of anxiety, as anxiety is often accompanied by physiological changes, such as increased heart rate, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating—some of the most common symptoms of anxiety. (Samer, 2009)

The case's repeated questions about what drove her son to drug addiction and her continuous doubts about whether she had ever failed in her responsibilities towards him indicate feelings of guilt. She feels responsible for what has happened to her son, which may suggest the presence of guilt. "Feelings of guilt, when the source is unclear, are often associated with anxiety, self-deprecation, disgust, and a vague sense of guilt, even when the individual is not guilty and does not deserve punishment." (Montaha Matar Abdel-Sahib, 2011, p. 22).

Regarding the results obtained from the questionnaire, most of the answers were marked as "Always", particularly for questions related to anxiety, such as "Do you feel an increase in your heart rate?" and "Are you unable to relax and calm down?" Regarding the questions related to feelings of guilt, which indicate a sense of guilt, she answered questions such as "Do you often wonder what drove your son to addiction?" and "Do you think about how you treated your son before his addiction?"

General Conclusion

Throughout this study, it was confirmed that the case interviewed, who had an adolescent son addicted to drugs, was facing a crisis in her life. She is experiencing pain and suffering after her adolescent son becomes addicted to drugs. Signs of constant anxiety are evident, and she is plagued by continuous thoughts about what led her son to addiction. She also experiences constant doubts about her failure to fulfil her responsibilities towards him, which indicates the presence of feelings of guilt in this case. Therefore, drug addiction in adolescents has negative implications for parents.

A score of 60 is a clear indication of the presence of anxiety, whereas a score of 54 suggests the existence of feelings of guilt.

Recommendations

On the basis of the findings of this study, we recommend the following:

• 1 .Studies and research on families affected by drug addiction are needed.

• 2 .Greater attention should be given to children, with proper monitoring and guidance.

• 3 .Training courses for teams involved in family affairs should be organized to better support and assist troubled families.

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