Family therapy in the treatment of addiction from a cultural perspective: Working with adolescents and their families.

摘要

This thesis will discuss the impact substance abuse has on adolescents of diverse cultural backgrounds and their families. Contributing factors such as acculturation, poverty, racism, environment, and social pressures are discussed as possible emotional gateways to adolescent substance use. Overviews of three cultures are briefly examined, Hispanic, Asian American, and African American as a means to understand some of the cultural differences of adolescent substance abusers. Several treatment models are discussed to help not just the individual, but the family system as a whole in order to guide and support the adolescent toward abstinence. Understanding family dynamics in family therapy as it relates to helping the family set structure, boundaries and support in dealing with the substance user is highlighted. This thesis opens new thought processes in working with culturally diverse adolescent substance abusers and their families and understanding the impact of factors affecting this group.