My father. The drug addict.

I remember, when I was really young, my dad screaming at mum for money. His addiction affected everyone. When he couldn't get his fix, he would turn physically abusive. My siblings and I learned to tiptoe around him all the time, never knowing when he might become violent.  

Once, when I was 15, I came home late from work, and he was so upset he wanted to beat me with his belt. Mum was there and stopped him, but it was terrifying. Even now, though he can no longer hurt me physically, that memory still haunts me. 

He was never around for most of my childhood. On my wedding day, he was in prison and wasn’t there to give me away. We all hated what drugs did to dad. He used to claim drugs were his own business, but he never realised how much pain he inflicted on all of us. I just hope he can turn his life around, especially for my mum. She has suffered too much for him. 

My father was a drug addict, and my story is a painful reminder that drug abuse affects those beyond the abuser. It destroys families — just like it shattered mine. 

Drug abuse harms more people than you think. Remember the victims.  

^{(*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the victim.)}