NCJ Number
156065
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 323-332
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study was conducted to obtain a personality profile and a descriptive analysis of a typical substance user who was enrolled in a treatment center and was receiving professional help for substance use at one of four participating treatment centers in a southwestern U.S. city.
Abstract
The sample was composed of 42 respondents who were in a treatment center for substance abuse, including alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and any combination thereof. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales were administered to measure family environment. The Personal Inventory was developed to collect information on the respondent's family profile, problems related to their substance use, current feelings, and their future plans. Findings show that a typical substance abuser was a 31-year-old male who is third-born and has parents who are most likely to be nonprofessionals. Most respondents became involved with substance use because of peer influence and reported feelings of boredom and unhappiness. First substance-use experiences were more often with marijuana, although at the time of enrollment at the treatment center, alcohol, cocaine/crack, heroin, marijuana, and a combination of substances were typically used. When ranking the major problems they perceived as having in their lives, respondents most often reported substance use and feeling bored or unhappy. When assessing respondents' family type, a difference was found between the balanced and mid-range families when considering their plans for having children. Of the substance- using respondents, most were planning to have children at some point in their lives, and of this group, many were from low- functioning families. 2 tables and 37 references