Drugs in the Family: The Reactions and Families’ First Actions

Drug addiction is a social problem that has long been going on and affects individuals, families, communities and countries. At the national level, drugs are a serious threat to the extent that various actions and efforts are taken by various agencies either directly or indirectly. The public sees drugs as a problem to the local communities’ harmony. The presence of drugs in a family institution draws various reactions and forces these families to take various precautions and actions to help save their family members from drug addiction. This study was undertaken in order to identify the reactions and early actions taken by families of drug addicts after finding out there is a drug addict among them. This study used qualitative methodology and data were collected through interviews and focus group interviews or Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving 29 respondents conducted in 10 separate focus groups. The study found that mixed emotions are the initial reactions of the respondents and the measures taken by the respondent were to get alternative treatments. Although drug rehabilitation takes time and requires the commitment of the addicts themselves, it does not prevent the family from trying and find other alternatives to treat addicts for the sake of family ties and a sense of responsibility to save addicts.