Abstract
To increase the sensitivity of family educators to family needs of women involved in substance-abuse programs, researchers interviewed participants in a county health department “Just Say Yes” program. The goal was to learn about participants' perceptions of family functioning. Retrospective appraisals of family life indicated that these women dealt extensively with the past and also the present in three particular areas: self, relationships, and overall family. An additional striking finding was the loss of positive male influences or interaction or both for all these women. The participants in the study also provided future recommendations for programs targeted to substance-abusing women.
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