Family background and personal trauma among drug addicts in the United States: implications for treatment.

Abstract

AbstractThis paper draws together a number of past studies of the family background characteristics of drug addicts. Additional data recently collected from a sample of 346 addicts in treatment are also reported and contrasted with the existing findings in the literature. The personal trauma in the disruptive backgrounds of drug addicts is a subject seldom broached in literature but one which the new data in this article highlights. Questions are asked about the administration of drug programs, given the background characteristics of those in treatment, and conclusions are drawn based on the therapeutic implications of the family disorganization and personal traumas in the backgrounds of addicts.