Addiction, the Sibling, and the Self

Abstract

Addiction in a family is clearly associated with tension, distress, and loss for members of the family. A substance user can destroy family cohesiveness and throw the overall family unit into chaos. Whereas persons who abuse substances and parents of substance abusers have been studied at some length, often ignored are the siblings of substance abusers. This article is coauthored by seven women, all sisters of current or former substance abusers, and provides in narrative form the phenomenology of this sibling role. Harsh realities and conditional hope are two of the major themes.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kasi N. Howard

Kasi N. Howard is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Program at Texas Tech University, currently on internship. Her research and clinical interests include emotional expression, respect, and identity as it relates to relationships.

Julianna Heston

Julianna Heston is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Program at Texas Tech University. Her primary research is on emotional reactions to assisted reproductive technology. Her clinical interests include couples and sexual assault survivors.

Charlene M. Key

Charlene M. Key is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at Texas Tech University. Her research and clinical interests are broadly in health psychology, with a current focus on smoking cessation training for health and mental health providers and for patients considering quitting smoking.

Erin McCrory

Erin McCrory is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Program at Texas Tech University. Her research and clinical interests include sexual health, trauma, and older adults.

Catherine Serna-McDonald

Catherine Serna-McDonald is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Program at Texas Tech University. Her research and clinical interests are in correctional/forensic psychology, specifically rehabilitative work with offenders who have mental illness.

K. Rachelle Smith

K. Rachelle Smith is a doctoral student in the Social Psychology Program at Texas Tech University. Her research centers on interpersonal reactions, specifically nonconscious behavioral mimicry, implicit self-theories, and stereotypes.

Susan S. Hendrick

Susan S. Hendrick is Paul Whitfield Horn professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at Texas Tech University. Her research and clinical interests include the general areas of close, romantic relationships, oncology, and the intersection of the two.