Addiction

Addiction and Family Life

What addiction means for family life varies greatly. A medically supervised methadone dependency can be entirely unproblematic. Gambling addiction can financially ruin a family. Smoking during pregnancy can harm the baby. A parent’s alcohol addiction can place such a burden on family life that all members suffer. On the other hand, there are also parents who try to manage their own stress or overwhelm through medication, without anyone noticing. For many people, a pregnancy or the arrival of a child is an occasion to reflect on their own behaviour and make changes.

“Withdrawal was hard. Really hard. But I wanted to keep being a good father. I wanted to watch my daughter grow up and not put her in danger. That kept me going the whole time.”

Pregnancy and Substance Use

All addictive substances – from alcohol and cigarettes to heroin – can harm a developing foetus or put a pregnancy at risk. The most common causes of harm are alcohol and cigarettes. It is therefore recommended to abstain entirely from such substances during pregnancy. However, this is not always straightforward, as cold withdrawal from certain substances can itself be dangerous for the baby. Counselling at a pregnancy counselling centre or an addiction counselling service is strongly recommended in any case.

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Quick Guidance on Substance Use During Pregnancy

• Avoid alcohol entirely. Even small amounts can harm the foetus.
• Important: if you have been drinking heavily, do not attempt cold withdrawal. Reduce slowly instead – inpatient support may be appropriate.
• Avoid cigarettes as far as possible – every packet not smoked protects the baby.
• Stop using cocaine, speed, meth, cannabis and similar substances as soon as possible.
• If you use benzodiazepines regularly (e.g. Valium®, Faustan®, Rohypnol®), seek medical advice and do not stop suddenly. Reduce gradually – inpatient support may be appropriate.
• If you use heroin regularly, seek medical advice and do not stop suddenly. Substitution therapy is possible during pregnancy.
• Avoid mixing substances.
• Do not give up after a relapse.
• Make use of counselling and support services: pregnancy counselling, addiction counselling, doctors, midwives.

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Addiction and Parental Custody

Addiction is common. And many people with addiction conditions provide good care for their children. The use of certain substances alone is not grounds for the removal of custody. However, the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) has a responsibility to monitor children’s wellbeing. This may include announced or unannounced home visits, or encouraging you to make use of specific family support services. The aim is to support the family in such a way that parents and children can remain together. You can also seek anonymous counselling on this topic at our counselling centres.