NCJ Number
57816
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS FORMS OF FAMILY TREATMENT APPROACHES WHICH HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO DRUG PROBLEMS ARE REVIEWED, ALONG WITH THE SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF SUCH TREATMENT.
Abstract
IN CONTRAST TO THE ALCOHOLISM FIELD, FAMILY APPPROACHES ARE RELATIVELY NEW AS APPLIED TO DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT. SEVERAL OF THESE TREATMENT APPROACHES AS RESEARCHED AND DESCRIBED IN NUMEROUS STUDIES INCLUDE (1) MARITAL TREATMENT, (2) GROUP MARITAL TREATMENT FOR PARENTS OF ABUSERS, (3) CONCURRENT PARENT AND IDENTIFIED PATIENT TREATMENT, (4) TREATMENT WITH INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES (THE MOST COMMON APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES BOTH INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT ORIENTATIONS), (5) SIBLING-ORIENTED TREATMENT, (6) MULTIPLE FAMILY THERAPY, AND (7) SOCIAL NETWORK THERAPY. MOST OF THE APPROACH STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON AN EXPLORATORY BASIS; THEY ESTABLISH WHAT METHODS HAVE BEEN TRIED AND WITH WHOM, BUT IN ONLY A FEW OF THE PUBLISHED ARTICLES HAS AN ATTEMPT BEEN MADE TO ASSESS EFFECTIVENESS. DESPITE THE FACT THAT EVIDENCE OF FAMILY TREATMENT APPROACHES IS INDICATIVE AND PROMISING, MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED. AN INTERPERSONAL, FAMILIAL INTERPRETATION OF TREATMENT INVOLVES A NONINDIVIDUALISTIC APPROACH AND THEREFORE NECESSITATES ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEMS SUCH AN APPROACH ENTAILS. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPLICATIONS FOR TREATMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE (1) CLARIFICATION OF TECHNIQUE, (2) FAMILY RECRUITMENT, (3) DIRECTION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT, (4) CONFIDENTIALITY, AND (5) TREATMENT DELIVERY SYSTEMS. THE FAMILY ORIENTED TREATMENT APPROACH ALSO HOLDS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL TRAINING AND FOR FUTURE RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO METHADONE CLINICS AND DEVELOPMENT OF MORE PRECISE METHODS OF DEALING WITH PARTICULAR SUBPOPULATIONS. THE GREATEST IMPLICATION LIES IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY BY THE FAMILY FOR THE DRUG ABUSER, RATHER THAN ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TREATMENT SYSTEM. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (LWM)