Families and Drugs: A Life-Span Research Approach

Abstract

The literature linking family-related drug abuse research and a life-span perspective is reviewed. Data are presented suggesting that drug abuse may be a problem at any point in the life-span and that the family is a natural laboratory for research dealing with this problem. Three subsets of the family/drug abuse literature relevant to a life-span perspective–Systems, Intergenerational, and Life-Cycle Studies-are identified and major studies within each briefly reviewed. Finally, in order to make a first step toward the integration of a life-span orientation with more traditional drug abuse research approaches, an extensive list of content-related and methodological research questions is suggested.