When parents finally realize (or admit to themselves) that their child is an addict, they will often experience worry along with feelings of anger and bitterness about being played by their child.
"Sibling resentment toward an addict can be just as sharp, if not worse. It’s a hugely underestimated dynamic, said Anita Devlin, mother of Mike Devlin Jr., soon to be five years sober from a painkiller addiction. Together, they have written “S.O.B.E.R.” which they say stands for “Son of a Bitch, Everything’s Real.”
Addiction is like a cancer that usually metastasizes beyond the addict himself. Its toxic effects end up spreading to other members of the family, as Anita puts it, like an octopus with tentacles."