Sib Group Therapy: A Prevention Program for Siblings from Drug-Addicted Families

Abstract

To prevent drug abuse among younger siblings of addicted adolescents, weekly group therapy sessions were implemented at a suburban therapeutic drug community. The concept evolved as an outgrowth of family therapy which revealed that inter-generational addictive patterns might impose a high future risk of similar behavior among latency age children. Results after 18 months indicate that although severe group acting-out behavior has diminished, underlying psychodynamics appear somewhat unchanged. Some evidence of experimentation with alcohol has emerged. Conclusions are that superego development is still impoverished but the tenacity of the group's existence provides positive speculations of ultimate success.