Transcript substance abuse and family

How does substance
abuse affect the
family?
Substance abuse is a
family disease.
Treating the whole family
encourages treatment and
reversal of the disease for
the abuser.
If the chemically dependent family
member returns to a family system
that remains dysfunctional and
chaotic, he or she will likely be faced
with two choices:
1- return to abusive drinking or drug
abuse
2- leave the family
Dysfunctional Family Phases
Dysfunctional families with a member
suffering from substance abuse will
progress through these four phases.
(Johnson Institute)
1- The Learning Phase
2- The Seeking Phase
3- The Harmful Phase
4- The Escape Phase
Parental substance abusers can
cause children a great deal of
emotional consequences.
Mistrust
Guilt
Shame
Confusion
Ambivalence
Fear
Insecurity
Conflicts about
sexuality
Other Consequences...
Behavioral
Medical and psychiatric
Educational
Economical
Social
Sources
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on the stability of family reunificaitons from foster care. Children and
Youth Services Review, 31, 193-198.
Burger, W.R. (2008). Human services in contemporary America, 7th ed.,
Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.
N.A. Effects of parental substance abuse on children and families. Retrieved
February 24, 2009. http://www.coaf.org.
Fagan, A.A. and Najman, J.M. (2005). The relative contributions of parental
and sibling substance use to adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and other
drug use. The Journal of Drug Issues, 35, 869-881.
McKeganey, N., Mcintosh, J., and Macdonald, F. (2003). Young people’s
experience of illegal drug use in the family. Drugs: education,
prevention and policy, 10, 169-184.
Murphy, J.P. (1984). Substance abuse and the family. Journal for
Specialists in Group Work. 106-112.