Parents, love your kids equally.
Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT found out that playing favorites may foster alcohol, drug, and cigarette use among less-favored children in their teenage years. Favoritism, in this case, is when a parent favors a child, oftentimes at the expense of the other child or children. This fosters negative energies like jealousy or hate.
However, the study reports that it isn’t so much the method of the treatment but the children’s perception. Study lead, BYU psychologist, and father of two Alex Jensen says:
“There’s this cultural perception that you need to treat your children the same, or at least fairly. But if kids perceive that it’s not fair, that’s when issues start to arise.”
This doesn’t suggest delinquency, the study explained; only substance abuse. However, it also explained that close family ties also had a profound effect on preventing substance abuse.
In families that weren’t particularly close, the child who felt less favored was more likely to be a substance abuser. The more dramatic the difference they perceived in preferential treatment, the more likely they were to be using.
But when family members were more engaged with each other, the perceived favoritism had less impact, at least when it came to substance abuse.
Even as the troubled child has grown into a binging adult, unconditional love is still a must. You must make him or her realize that he needs expert help, not just the help your parenting years can offer. This case usually calls for expert alcohol treatment in Albuquerque due to the lasting effects of long-term intoxication.
The treatment can involve a dose of medication; among which is naltrexone (Vivitrol®), a potent alcohol and opiate blocker. Commonly injected, naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of other opioids. Alcohol doesn’t contain any opioids, but studies show that it releases endorphins—”feel good” natural opioids—into the bloodstream.
Naltrexone use must only be administered by certified Albuquerque treatment services like Turning Point Recovery Center. The injectable version of Naltrexone, Vivitrol, is expected to last for 28 days, and then another injection is required.
(Source: “Kids’ Perception Of Parents’ Favoritism Counts More Than Reality,” KRWG, September 19, 2014)
If you think that an intervention is the thing to help your child or loved one take that first step towards recovery, download our “Intervention Checklist.”
~Turning Point Recovery Center
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