Effects Of Heroin Abuse On Family Relationships

Escalation of Destruction

At 12 years old Sylvia struggled with her identity. When she gazed in the mirror her smiling face did not stare back at her, but a disappointing blank glare of judgment. Her hair was too curly and her ankles were too thin and for some reason she was never happy with who she was or what she had.

Her struggle to accept herself pushed her to use for the first time. Sylvia had dreams of becoming more than a drug addict, but as her depression deepened, she could not help but say yes when her friend asked her if she wanted to sniff paint. With one spray of the paint can, Sylvia suddenly liked herself and the high that she got was enough for her to start using.

Her drug abuse escalated to smoking marijuana, alcohol, LSD, and mescaline. Sending her down a path she never intended to go down, what she thought was fun was now corrupting her future and destroying her dreams.

Suffering with Her Disease

There wasn’t a time in her life she wasn’t using something and when her 20’s hit her disease had taken control of her life, forcing her to abandon her family, compromise her morals, and become a slave to the numbness that drug abuse gave her.

By 25 years old Sylvia was trapped in an abusive marriage with a man who did not not respect the love she gave or care about the illness she was suffering from. He forced her to work the streets to feed their addiction, pushing her to her limits with the promise of more heroin.

By 28 years old the grip of her disease suffocated her dreams from her as it ripped her three children from her, rendered her jobless and homeless, and sent her on a drug binge that would last for 9 years.

“When I started using, I had no idea the darkness that the using would take me into. I just thought I was getting loaded to have fun.” She shares with confidence.

But she never lost the love she had for her children and in between the hunger of her addiction and the abuse of the streets, she dreamed of getting her children back and becoming the mother that was trapped beneath the suffering.

The Steps to a Beautiful Life

At 37 years old Sylvia found the courage to stand up to her disease and reach out to a higher power for help. She began working a 12 Step Program that helped her accept herself and grow from the horrors of her past. Sober and healing, God had a plan for Sylvia that would turn her into the person that she always wanted to be, a person that would guide others as God had guided her.

During her rehabilitation, Sylvia learned that there was life after addiction, learned how to love and communicate, and most of all relearned how to dream. And by the grace of God, Sylvia became the beautiful person she looked in the mirror for, the beautiful person that was trapped inside all those years.

Sylvia began to work with women in recovery, giving love and acceptance to those who needed it the most. She went back to school and achieved a master’s degree in marriage therapy.

Rekindled the relationship with her family, more importantly the relationship with her sister.

Became the best grandmother to 9 amazing grandchildren and liberated over 101 women who were suffering the same disease she had.

“Your life can change. It’s a beautiful life and I don’t have to use anymore…”

I want you to watch Sylvia’s true story of addiction because you too have a beautiful life waiting for you. Don’t let your disease rob you of your beautiful life. You are worth getting clean for.

37 comments
  1. I have so much respect for you. Only God can orchestrate this kind of a miracle, and I truly thank you for allowing Him to use you in such a mighty way. Wow.

  2. Low self esteem almost ruined Sylvia here. At a very tender age, she strayed off. Took time though but happy she eventually got help. Touching this is.

  3. This was a beautiful piece that well written. There’s always life after addiction. It is to seize it and live better.

  4. Sylvia Story was so emotional and also a motivation to everyone not to give up. I’m so happy for her in her recovery process.

  5. I respect you a lot. Only God can do such a miracle and I really thank you for allowing him to use you in such a powerful way. thanks a lot

  6. This has enlighten me the more. There is alot to addiction, different cause to it, and one can easily slip into if not careful.

  7. Wonderful!I feel people need to be Aware that there is Life even after addiction.Don’t let your disease rob you of your beautiful Life.

  8. This is a great miracle. Only God can make this turn around possible. This is one of my favourite story being shared

  9. I agree with you Sylvia that life can be beautiful. You just need to understand this and keep pushing to overcome all forms of addiction.

  10. Addiction can be that crazy that it separates you from the family.
    Makes you feel alone and feel it’s all you got.

  11. Just like being devoted to other things while being in a family, substance abuse may lead to neglect of family. You will find yourself very busy abusing drugs while not concentrating on family matters.

  12. This is another story on the effect of heroin on family life. Sylvia’s abuse of heoin broke her relationship with her family. Glad she took the step to recovery and amend her broken relationship with her family in the end.

  13. A drug is used in amounts or in ways that are harmful to a person or others. It is a form of “substance disorder”. Different definitions of drug abuse are used in the context of public health, medical, and criminal justice.
    Ravikant

  14. This is a very pathetic story. Sylvia’s life spiralled down the moment she started taking heroin. Glad she was able to recovery and live a beautiful life.

  15. Heroin brings separation amongst family members especially when it has never been recorded in such a family that an individual has engaged in drug and alcohol consumption. It is a devil that negatively affect the family.

  16. Very touching story about Sylvia. Heroin use is never a good thing for the human mind as it leads to many negative effects. I am happy for her in the end for finding recovery and happiness.

  17. Disease is a good way of putting it. In hindsight perhaps it is, A very good support system mentality too. HERD HUH? Well we all have that. In reality that simple thing makes a huge difference.

  18. Wow… Amazing story. It is a good news to know she acquires masters degree in a field that will help the family institution. Thanks detox for changing lives. Congratulations Sylvia

  19. people who struggle with their identity always take to drugs..Sylvia drug addiction is on another level..and being trapped in an abusive marriage at 25..I can only imagine what she went through..so glad she went for rehabilitation…keep getting better

  20. Heroine addiction have a lot of negative effect on the individual and family as a whole, thank God Sylvia took positive steps to a beautiful life. Detox to rehab thank you for sharing this amazing story of recovery.

  21. Heroin abuse is detrimental to people’s health. There is an urgent need for people to abstain from drug or substance abuse.

  22. Effects of heroine abuse are detrimental and unpalable. However, people should keep away from drug addiction fot healthy lifestyle.

  23. I love the quote “your life is a beautiful one”. There is more to this if taken with all heart. Thanks for sharing

  24. Addiction is life destructive, all glory be to God in that despite all you went through you were still able to attain recovery and still make a good use of your life

  25. Depression is a bad disease, it makes people go into things that they wouldn’t have in the first . Sylvia drug abuse shattered her dreams but I am happy she reached out to a higher power and is now on a clean path.

  26. Sylvia started drug at a very tender age and she continued to become addicted to it. Drug addiction doesn’t only affects the user, it spreads across to the family members and their loved one. It’s great Sylvia was able to be sober and she is doing great thing by sharing her story.

  27. More, more and more heroin will never solve drug Addiction. You’ve experienced a whole lot, getting your family and job separated from you.
    I’m glad you found your way back courageously.

  28. Sylvia’s story is a touching one, from experiencing depression to an abusive marriages while still on drugs. I am glad she had the courage to stand up to her addiction. I hope she makes the best out of her new life.

  29. We always start small with addiction and it grows and our craving become stronger. Addicts not only face the problem alone, it affects their loved ones. God help us

  30. Good to hear about Sylvia. Though her beginning was very rough due to drugs but happy for her for the recovery and helping people out.

  31. In the article it has been written that her hair was too curly, so does she use some sort of hair straighteners now? It seems she was suffering from addiction when she was quite young. It has been stated that she suffered from some sort of disease but the name of the disease is not mentioned in the article.

  32. Drug addicts can never allow one to taste real life. Let be totally free from addictions. Thank you for sharing this information.

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