Substance Abuse and Family Interaction

The authors propose that substance use and abuse may be understood and effectively treated when the individual user or abuser is viewed in the context of his family or stable living group. This viewpoint attributes an important role in the maintenance of individual substance abuse to interactional processes within the family system. The theoretical assumptions implied by this viewpoint are discussed. A selective literature review examines the available evidence, from both experimental and clinical‐descriptive studies, that is relevant to this proposal. The next step toward a more systematic investigation of these ideas is outlined, including testable hypotheses, methodological issues and problems, and potentially useful techniques.