The goal of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of substance abuse and how family members are affected when one engages in addiction. Alcohol and drug problems of individuals have affected their children and families. The problem of substance use, abuse and misuse is still persistent today. Research on substance misuse must be approached with the clear objectives of using knowledge which is specified towards a certain goals. However, the pursuit to bring a convergence between the philosophical based and empirical divisions in research can become a challenge to be perceived.
This research aims to provide a literature review which critically assesses the effects of the complexity of the problem, and how different theories and approaches have provided us with what we now know. Over the years, different strategies has been created, proposed and adopted to deliver research-based programmes on substance abuse. In 2000, under the UK’s government anti-drug strategy goal, initiatives were aimed to underpin the development of prevention strategies and drug-treatment services. Investment in research has been increased to improve knowledge about the problem.
Research is in continuous pursuit to know the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment and care modalities, trends which led to the concern for more research on substance misuse, lack of information regarding the problem, and limitations as to why some treatments do not work. The goal of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of substance abuse and how family members are affected when one engages in addiction. Alcohol and drug problems of individuals have affected their children and families.
Many cases and effects are well documented through out these years, and as the rate of people experiencing substance abuse and misuse increases, so are the family members who are also affected. In the UK, about 4 million 16-65 years old people are dependent on alcohol and or drugs (Velleman and Templeton, 2003). As mentioned, different researches has pursued this problem of substance use, abuse, and misuse over the years. Various disciplines have participated in this effort. From the disciplinary divide, investigations involve analytics paradigms to understand the pressing problem.
But favourably, divisions in research done in substance abuse and misuse have generated valuable information in the process. Each discipline has influenced in one way or the other the way we view substance abuse and misuse nowadays, but in its entirety, we become aware of its multi-facet features and how different characteristics influence the problem. This paper will focus on how the problem is understood in the context of biological, psychological, social and cultural context. The problem of substance use, abuse and misuse is still persistent today.
Research on substance misuse must be approached with the clear objectives of using knowledge which is specified towards a certain goals. However, the pursuit to bring a convergence between the philosophical based and empirical divisions in research can become a challenge to be perceived. This research aims to provide a literature review which critically assesses the effects of the complexity of the problem, and how different theories and approaches have provided us with what we now know. Operational Definitions of Terms: Substance misuse refers to the use of alcohol and drugs.
There are many classified drugs in the market today. Some are illegal, and some drugs are legally produced to consume, such as pharmaceuticals and those used in products in the smallest amounts. Legal drugs are those which are used in industrial products such as caffeine in coffee. Illegal drugs are those prohibited for marketing and production such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Using Sutherland (2004) definition, we can also include alcohol in this definition because these substances have profound effects on the behaviour and actions of an individual. Substance use can be attributed to several factors of use.
Not all substances are abuses, many people who used them tried just because of curiosity, others because of the pleasurable effects it illicit, and some for recreational use. Alcohol can be used abusively, and some drink socially. Among the different uses, frequency, and intensity of substance use, addiction happens. Family members normally consist of son or daughter, mother or father and brother or sister of a loved one whose substance misuse and the problems associated with it, leaves those involved feeling angry, frustrated, fearful, and isolated (Barnard, 2007).
Drugs policy and drugs research has most commonly focused attention on the individual with the substance problem, their substance associated criminality and treatment experiences. Barnard (2007) has found that it is a ‘lamentable myopia that has led to a situation where the harms that accrue to families through a close relatives drug problem remain hidden, not because they are not there to view, but because we have largely chosen not to see’ (Barnard, 2007). The impact of substance use has on family members is most often sidelined.
As Orford (2005) argues, family members are also the victims of an unwanted hazard together with the users. Chapter II: Methodology Research conducted has shown that the centrality of the family was more emphasised in theory than in practice, as affirmed by Orford and Harwine (1982), therefore making it even more difficult to establish a family perspective. Suggestions to understand the problem in a family perspective are shown in the literatures of Templeton, 2007, Cotterall and Boston (2002), Liddle (2004) and Copello (2006).
Following organizational theory in literature review, literature which focused on the topic of the paper was used for analysis. The use of qualitative research in the context of this paper is important because it helps in understanding the effects of substance misuse through the family member’s perspective. The richness of qualitative data is also a valuable tool when researching the effects of substance misuse as it helps to demystify substance misuse and replace it with more accurate information that reflects the daily reality of family members and importantly to understand the everyday context of substance misuse.