Child Intervention Programs

In 1985 Dr. Howard Liddle developed Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) in an effort to combat adolescent substance abuse along with associated mental health and behavioral issues (Rowe, 2010). Combining multiple theoretical frameworks, such as developmental psychology, family systems theory, and the risk and protective model of adolescent substance abuse, Liddle created a multi-systems approach to focus on the adolescent as an individual, family member, and peer; the parents as individuals and their caregiving roles; the family and their interconnected relationships as well as the family environment; and extra-familial influential systems, such as school, peer networks, and the juvenile justice system (Liddle, 2010). This ecological conceptual framework allows for MDFT to delve deeper into understanding the adolescent’s intersecting environments and relationships in regard to their own development and substance abuse.

More importantly, newer research has investigated the importance of family-based therapy for adolescents who practice drug abuse. Research by Liddle et al. suggests that multidimensional family therapy reduces substance abuse, delinquency, risks for future problems, and encourages the protective processes more than group treatments over the course of one year (21-22). Although previous research on family-based

Growing up with substance abuse parents can potentially put the children at risk for developmental deficiencies. Parents who are substance dependent are oftentimes focus on themselves over their children, and this leads to neglecting the children. Without the attachment with the parents, children are lack of security and trust to explore the outside world. According to Erik Erikson, children develop at different stage. Infants are totally dependent on their parents. If parents provide the good care and support to the children, they will develop the basic trust to their parents and the world, otherwise, they will feel insecure and develop mistrust instead. This mistrust may cause problems later in life. As children begin to grow and navigate the challenges of adolescence, parental substance abuse has a direct impact on their well-being, as well as their behavior. Teenagers are eager to seek their identities. Yet, growing up with mistrust, inferiority, and shame

Substance abuse is an issue that continues to grow in America at an alarming rate. Families are an important factor for the onset of substance abuse as well as the sustainment of the addiction (Gruber & Taylor, 2006). The National Institute of Drug Abuse defines substance abuse as “A chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences” (“Understanding Drug Use and Addiction,” 2016). In order to prevent relapse, success is found in the formation of familial and social relationships (Baharudin et al., 2014). Substance abuse is a major stressor in the family system and it not only impacts the family’s relationships with those outside of the family but

Although all sorts of families can be devastated by addiction, but single parent units (the most common lower class structure) are the most obscured. Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches supports, “In every family unit, each person plays a role (or multiple roles) to help the family function better and to maintain a level of homeostasis, stability and balance. When substance abuse is added to this dynamic, the family roles naturally shift to adjust to the new behaviors associated with drug or alcohol use, and to continue maintaining order and balance.”4 In single parent units there is an inability of a second parent to fill the void role of the addicted parent. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states, “Frequently, children may act as surrogate spouses for the parent who abuses substances. For example, [young] children may develop elaborate systems of denial to protect themselves against that reality of the parent’s addiction. Because that option does not exist in a single‐parent household with a parent who abuses substances, children are likely to behave in a manner that is not age‐appropriate to compensate for the parental deficiency.”2 So a child growing up in a compromised family unit where addiction is present may develop altered norms and mature into an addict themselves.4

The article that I chose from Nissen’s bibliography article is the role of family in preventing and intervening with substance use and misuse and family interventions that focus on young people. The article talks about how families plays a key part in helping prevent substance abuse and misuse by both promoting and encouraging safety and resilience. Young people are prone to become involved with drugs and not only harm themselves but their families as well. In the United States 12 percent of people in the population aged 12-17, have used some type of illicit drugs (Vellememan, Templeton & Copello, 2004). Young people are easily influenced into the use and misuse of substance abuse. When the child has a close family bond and a positive relationship with family, that closeness has been found to discourage their choices to try drugs and alcohol through positive reinforcements within the family structure. There is evidence that children who are from single parent

Addiction is a disease that not only affects the person with the addiction but the family as well. The children that grow up in this environment take on different roles in their family to try and cope with their environment. According to American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, there is an estimate of 26.8 million children that are exposed to alcoholism in the family (2015). As these children grow up they develop many common characteristics into adulthood. These characteristics have a lasting impact on their lives.

Understanding personally that parents are consciously aware of the horrors of drug addiction; with determination and an education about the problems they’re facing parents can and will make a difference in their child’s life. The necessity for incarceration for drug addict can be a necessary step in the recovery process. At some point the addict must realize that his/her perception of control is flawed, and their ability to make rational judgements for

Results of this similar study by Toumbourou and Gregg (2002) demonstrate that “substance use was significantly reduced for students” (p. 281). In addition, these same adolescents reported higher levels of maternal care after the intervention than they had before; that is, being in a school where an intervention took place “almost doubled the odds of high maternal care” (Toumbourou & Gregg, 2002, p. 282). In this study, maternal care was associated with the attenuation of substance use (Toumbourou & Gregg, 2002). Further, there was a “high level of adherence to the PACE curriculum” (Toumbourou & Gregg, 2002, p. 279), indicating that caregivers of Glenville students will likely follow our program and show success in bettering their parenting skills and behaviors, as well as their relationships with their

Along with illegal behavior often a substance abuser will find themselves as homeless, spending their paychecks on their habits of using substances (Tracy, 2005). Children of abusers are affected by both possessing negative role models that set the example that drug use is not wrong and sometimes the children are placed into the care of the community because of neglect and abuse by the substance user (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health [CDC], 2009). Other medical, social, and economic issues also are being experienced from substance abuse and use.

I believe that family involvement is a critical component in addictions counseling. Not only is it possible for the family to play a role in enabling and maintaining an addiction, it is also possible for the family to be an advocate and a positive support system. As a counselor, I see it as my responsibility to ensure that needs are being met on all levels. This often means involving family members. While my primary role will be to work with the client who is suffering from an addiction, I can also provide encouragement and resources for my clients’ families. Family interventions, coupled with group and individual therapy, can be very effective in overcoming addictions. Often times, involving family members in treatment can help the counselor gain a better understanding of the role of the addictive behavior as well as how to restructure family interactions. Personally, I want to work with adolescents. Family involvement is essential when working with this population. It is important for everyone to be one to be on the same page with regards to treatment and goal-setting. Family involvement greatly enhances treatment outcomes for both patients and their families. Involving family members in all stages of treatment ensures that clients are getting the care that both need and

The cost of alcohol and substance abuse in the United States reaches heights of four hundred eighty four billion dollars per year (“Magnitude”). That’s about seven hundred eighty times the amount it cost to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases in the year 2000 (Chesson). The sole purpose of this is not to persuade you one way or the other on this topic. Nor is the purpose to apologize for this social issue. The purpose of this writing is to employ data showing the societal effects parental addictions have on children, to show how this data has remained relevant in society, and to show how it is affecting our future members of society.

Positive parental practices and direct involvement in an adolescent’s substance abuse treatment is “best practice” and will increase the adolescent’s rate of success in substance abuse treatment. Parents that are actively involved in their child’s life reduce the risk of adolescent drug and alcohol abuse. Data has been documented through research that the parents who are active participants in their child’s treatment is a “best practice” method. This specific type of research has not existed in a consistent manner over the last decade, but is becoming increasingly noticed as more treatment centers are incorporating holistic approaches to treatment, including parent interactions as a main key. Using a holistic approach, positive parent influence has specifically been related to a decrease in substance abuse in adolescents into early adulthood. Substance abuse continues to be a wide-spread problem amongst adolescents who do not receive proper treatment through a holistic approach, including parents and family members. Critical evidence has shown that family involvement in the treatment process is effective and will increase the adolescent success rate in recovery from addiction (Beaudoin, 2013, p. 28). Early detection of alcohol

Drug addiction is a serious issue in not only America today, but globally. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance addiction is a “chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the harmful consequences” (“What is drug addiction?”). Drug abuse affects not only the user, but those around the user as well. The actions of a drug user place a significant amount of worry on the people that are closest to them such as friends and family. Children with parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol can be severely affected by the actions of their parents which can cause them much harm in terms of biological and

America’s national debt is estimated at over fourteen trillion dollars (TreasuryDirect.com). The problem with the country’s deficit is not news unheard of. Overcoming the problem has shown its difficulties. Not much seems to alleviate the problem. “As of this year the House of Representatives proposed an estimated thirty two billion dollars in cuts to programs for children” (Sanderson). Although the country is severely in debt and cuts definitely need to be made, it is not right that the children of America have to pay for the consequences. Why make children pay for something they did not contribute to? The government needs to continue supporting and funding programs that help children, such as A Keiki’s Dream, because these programs