Families with drug-related problems

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate a major social problem: the drug problem. It aims to see drug abuse in the context of the family of origin of the drug abuser. Because it is considered most likely that the drug abuser in the family of origin is either an adolescent or young adult, or would have begun abusing drugs since adolescence and young adulthood, it is families where the drug abusers are aged between fourteen and twenty-five years which are the focus of this study (Stanton and Todd 1982: 23). Thus in this dissertation the relationship between drug abuse in young people, and the family is studied. After an extensive literature review, observations were conducted within a Group for Parents organised by sedqa, as well as within individual sessions and home visits. In addition ten adolescent and young adult drug abusers, and family members from ten families with drug-abusing young members, were interviewed through the use of semi-structured questionnaires to obtain a qualitative glance at the situation such families find themselves in. Five workers, employed with sedqa were also interviewed, as it was felt that the experience which they have with families with drug-related problems could throw light on the subject under study. Results obtained show, that although there were cases where family dysfunction was one of the factors that had placed the young person at risk for drug abuse, one cannot generalise that drug abuse is a symptom of family dysfunction. What has been ascertained is that once family members become aware of the youngster's drug abuse, drug abuse definitely becomes a family problem. A family with one of its younger members abusing drugs faces multi-faceted circumstances, and requires help irrespective of whether it was one of the factors that placed the young person at risk for drug abuse. Hence, it is suggested that social work intervention is of vital importance when dealing with families who are facing drug-related problems.