Citation

Hsu LN. World Health Stat. Q. 1993; 46(4): 237-241.

Affiliation

Programme on Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, World Health Organization)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8017084

Abstract

Substance abuse is spreading to countries previously unaffected, to all age groups, including the elderly, and to women: the potential impact of drug abuse on the family is therefore increasing while at the same time, the family can play a crucial role in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The family is the arena for learning healthy behaviour, including ways of handling problems associated with psychoactive substance use. The ability of family members to cope with life events is influenced by the available behavioural role models, the quality of communications among family members and the options a family has within the community. Strengthening the social network and families' coping mechanisms may reduce the demand for and the consequences of substance abuse by family members.The author looks at data from a variety of countries around the world in the attempt to analyze drug and alcohol use by parents, spouses, and children, and the role of the family in preventing psychoactive substance abuse. Psychoactive substances include illicit, licit, or controlled drugs, alcohol, and other substances such as glue and organic solvents. Sections discuss children with substance-abusing parents, spouses with substance-abusing partners, and the adolescent use of psychoactive substances. It is concluded that substance abuse is spreading to countries previously unaffected, to all age groups, and to women. The potential impact of drug abuse on the family is therefore increasing, while at the same time the family can play an important role in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. People can learn healthy behavior within the family setting, including how to handle problems associated with psychoactive substance use. The ability of family members to cope with life events is influenced by the available behavioral role models, the quality of communications among family members, and the options a family has within the community. Strengthening the social network and families' coping mechanisms may reduce the demand for and the consequences of substance abuse by family members.

Language: en