Family Structures of Narcotic Addicts

Abstract

Seventy-five families of former narcotic addicts were studied in New York City and Los Angeles. All patients were in residential treatment at the time of the study and they and their families participated in a multiple family group which was the major source of data. The most common familial pattern seen was that of a mother enmeshed with her addicted son. The father feels excluded by this dyad and reacts with disengagement, brutality, or increased consumption of alcohol. However, in certain ethnic groups the entire family including the father is quite enmeshed with each other and their addict sons. Siblings were either fellow addicts whose drug abuse is fused with that of the identified patient or, to the contrary, “good” children who were parental figures and quite successful. Addict spouse pairs tend to duplicate patterns which they have developed in their family of origin. Male addicts frequently dominate their addicted or drug-free spouse to assure themselves of being cared for. The female addict population in this study was too small (N = 16) for generalization but observed patterns are discussed.