Summary
Substance use disorders do not occur in a vacuum. Not only does the SUD person suffer but so do his or her families and significant others. Families can often become part of the solution or part of the problem when it conies to substance use disorders, therefore it is imperative that families and significant others be involved in motivating loved ones to enter treatment, as well as while they are in treatment and then when they return home. This chapter reviews some of the major theoretical models that conceptualize how SUDs impact on family members and how these models can be utilized to help bring about change. In addition to presenting basic conceptualization of Family Systems, Structural Family Theory, the Family Disease Model and Behavioral/Cognitive Behavioral Theory, we also present information on the CRAFT approach, Johnsonian Intervention and the use of civil commitment as other options for families who are concerned about the well-being of their loved ones.
Recommended Reading and Resources
Bekir, R, McLellan, T, Childress, A.R., & Gariti, P. (1993). Role reversals in families of substance misusers: A transgenerational phenomenon. International Journal of Addictions, 28(7), 613-630.
Brown, S.,& Lewis,V. (1999). The alcoholic family in recovery:A developmental model. New York: Guilford Press.
Jackson, J.K. (1954). The adjustment of the family to the crisis of alcoholism. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 15, 562—586.
Johnson,V. (1973), I'll quit tomorrow. New York: Harper & Row.
McCrady, B.S., Owens, M.D., & Brovko, J.M. (2013). Couples and family treatment methods. In B.S. McCrady & E.E. Epstein (Eds). Addictions: A comprehensive guidebook (2nd edn, pp. 454—481). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Stanton, M.D., & Todd.T.C. (1982). The family therapy of drug abuse and addiction. New York: Guilford Press.
Steinglass, R, Bennett, L.A.,Wolin, S.J., &■ Reiss, D. (1987). The alcoholic family. New York: Basic Books.
Wegsheider, S. (1981). Another chance: Hope and health for the alcoholic family. Palo Alto, CA: Science & Behavior Books.
Resources
Families and Addictions (website): This website was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and lists a number of publications. www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Family Genogram Programs (websites): These websites provide programs for writing creating genograms. Some sites provide free samples, others charge usage fees. www. genogramanalytics.com/index.html; www.genopro.com/genogram/
What is a genogram? (YouTube video):This brief video describes what a genogram is and how it can be used in counseling. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuXvG9tbUMs
How to Make a Genogram (website):This is fromWikiHow.com and provides a step-by-step model for creating a genogram. www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Genogram
Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy (website): This one of SAMHSA s Treatment Improvement Protocols which provides in depth information on family therapy, www. ncbi. nlm. nih .gov/books/NBK64269/
Family Behavior Therapy (website): This guide to behavioral family therapy is presented by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment/ behavioral-5
