Children of Affluent Families May Be More Likely to Fall into Drug Abuse
Addiction is a devastating problem that strikes families of every type—affluent and poor, professional and blue collar. Children in families of means may even be more prone to addiction than average since their parents’ generosity often provides funds that can be diverted to drugs, alcohol and parties.
As a child grows up, most parents try to offer generous support to help their child realize their goals. But that’s not enough to prevent a child from straying into drug abuse and even addiction. High pressure to achieve may be felt from peers, teachers and parents. Isolation from the family can easily develop in professional families where business responsibilities may be continuous and demanding.
One study found that children in suburban, upper-middle-class families were actually more likely to use drugs and struggle with emotional problems than their inner-city counterparts. The presence of emotional struggles in both young men and women indicated that they could be using drugs to self-medicate these stresses.
Being children of figures in the public eye has similar pressures and can result in stories like these:
The son of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan was drinking and driving when he crashed his car into a tree and permanently injured his best friend. Nick Hogan spent eight months in jail.
Actor Michael Douglas’ son Cameron was arrested for selling methamphetamine and cocaine at a luxurious hotel in Manhattan. His dad appealed to the court to reduce his son’s five-year sentence, noting that the young man had been in and out of rehabs since he was 13 years old.
The daughter of musician Jon Bon Jovi overdosed on heroin in her dorm room in 2012 but survived.
In England, the media often focuses on the addiction problems of the offspring of titled and affluent landowners. Like Jamie Blandford, heir to the Dukedom of Marlborough. And Prince Charles’s godson, the Honourable Nicholas Knatchbull, heir to an estate in Hampshire, who turned out to be addicted to crack cocaine.
Bringing Promising Individuals Back to Sobriety
When the children of famed or affluent families need help getting back on their feet, privacy, comfort and personal care are quite reasonable concerns. Narconon Ojai was designed to provide personal attention in a beautiful, secluded environment suitable for recovery from the trauma and pain of addiction.
At this recovery center, the program itself is the most important factor in a young person’s recovery. This is a time-tested program—fifty years of experience on six continents has proven the effectiveness of the Narconon drug rehab program. From the renowned to the unknown, people from all levels of society have found that this program was their route back to a productive, enjoyable life.
Learn how this program addresses the reasons a person began using drugs in the first place. Then find out how we help each person repair the harm drugs and heavy alcohol use cause to a body, mind and spirit. We can help. Call us today to learn how.
