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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.
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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
Mistrust Guilt Shame Confusion Ambivalence Fear Insecurity Conflicts about sexuality Parental substance abusers can cause children a great deal of emotional consequences.
Other Consequences... • Behavioral • Medical and psychiatric • Educational • Economical • Social
Sources • Brook, J. and McDonald, T. (2009). The impact of parental substance abuse 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.