ADDICTION WITHIN THE FAMILY SYSTEM HDFS 477: Analysis of Family Problems Speaker: Justin R. Watts M.Ed. NCC

WHAT IS ADDICTION  Addiction is a very complicated disease that has profound effects on individuals and family members  What is addiction? Substance use disorder (APA, 2013) Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than the you meant to Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance Cravings and urges to use the substance Not managing to do what you should at work, home or school, because of substance use Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use Using substances again and again, even when it puts the you in danger Continuing to use, even when the you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance) Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance. 2-3 symptoms mild, 3-4 moderate, 6 or more severe

ADDICTIONS WITHIN FAMILY STRUCTURE  Structural family theory: how components of a system interact, how dysfunction develops, how homeostasis is achieved  Addiction can only survive within a system when the structure supports it  When you move any one piece of a mobile, all the other pieces move too! They do not exist in isolation from one another, and “movement” in any one part of the “system” will affect all the rest of the parts of the system Minuchin (1974): Structural Family Theory

HOW IS ADDICTION MAINTAINED AND SUPPORTED WITHIN THE FAMILY SYSTEM  Rules (implicit or explicit)  Its not ok to talk about family problems  It’s not okay to talk about, or express our feelings openly  Don’t address issues or relationships directly  Always be strong, always be good, always be perfect  Its not ok to put your needs before someone else's  Don’t rock the boat Slide adopted from Dr. Deirdre O’Sullivan CRC

HOW DO MEMBERS SUPPORT ADDICTION  Money  Living arrangements  Child care  Transportation  Co-Dependency  Dealing with consequences of others substance use  Anything which allows one member to maintain addictive behaviors

QUESTIONS?  Are addictive behaviors transmitted generationally?  Who is the “identified patient” within a family struggling with addiction?  Is substance abuse a biological, sociological, psychological, or physiological disease?  What factors make someone prone to engaging in substance abusing behaviors?