Family Roles of Addiction
Kirsten M. Holley
10/13/13
Substance Abuse
Chapter 5-6 Exercise Family Roles of Addiction
I have never thought of myself as someone who had to deal with the struggles of addiction, I never had a problem with drugs or alcohol so the whole topic of substance abuse wasn’t really important to me. After reading more into the chapters of my book I now know that even if you are not the addict that doesn’t mean you are not caught up in the problems that addiction brings. Addiction is a disease that affects the family as a whole and sadly enough there are many real life situations where this occurs. “As the addict becomes more and more disabled by addiction, family members adapt to accommodate the changes in the addict.” (Ferguson, 2011) Family members often take on roles that support the negativity from the substance abuser and by identifying these roles in the family; the dynamic can be strengthened and healed. “Untouched” is a story that portrays the survival roles of a family struggling with addiction. Within the story, there is a different character that all play a separate role and react differently to the challenges of addiction. First you have the dad, this is the addict in the family who is abusing the substance and is often the center of attention. Sadly you will find that the family of the addict will continue to reinforce this role for the abuser and the abuser may continue to use drugs because they enjoy the attention. The dad chooses to act like he does not have a problem because he is successful and high class, therefore he is only unwinding from hard work he has to endure. He chooses to insult the family around him but cleverly masks the insult as a joke so that no one can act on defense but still they feel humiliated and cut down. He uses the power of his money to keep his wife and first daughter to turn their head and ignore his problems but in secrete he is doing nothing but driving the family into mounds of debt due to his lack of ability
10/13/13
Substance Abuse
Chapter 5-6 Exercise Family Roles of Addiction
I have never thought of myself as someone who had to deal with the struggles of addiction, I never had a problem with drugs or alcohol so the whole topic of substance abuse wasn’t really important to me. After reading more into the chapters of my book I now know that even if you are not the addict that doesn’t mean you are not caught up in the problems that addiction brings. Addiction is a disease that affects the family as a whole and sadly enough there are many real life situations where this occurs. “As the addict becomes more and more disabled by addiction, family members adapt to accommodate the changes in the addict.” (Ferguson, 2011) Family members often take on roles that support the negativity from the substance abuser and by identifying these roles in the family; the dynamic can be strengthened and healed. “Untouched” is a story that portrays the survival roles of a family struggling with addiction. Within the story, there is a different character that all play a separate role and react differently to the challenges of addiction. First you have the dad, this is the addict in the family who is abusing the substance and is often the center of attention. Sadly you will find that the family of the addict will continue to reinforce this role for the abuser and the abuser may continue to use drugs because they enjoy the attention. The dad chooses to act like he does not have a problem because he is successful and high class, therefore he is only unwinding from hard work he has to endure. He chooses to insult the family around him but cleverly masks the insult as a joke so that no one can act on defense but still they feel humiliated and cut down. He uses the power of his money to keep his wife and first daughter to turn their head and ignore his problems but in secrete he is doing nothing but driving the family into mounds of debt due to his lack of ability
Cited: Ferguson, P. L. (2011). Survival roles develop within the family of alcoholics and addicts. Retrieved from http://www.peggyferguson.com/userfiles/10846/file/Survival Roles Develop Within The Family of Alcoholics and Addicts.pdf Wood, A. (n.d.). Family roles: In the addictive system. Retrieved from http://therapyinphiladelphia.com/selfhelp/tips/family_roles_in_the_addictive_system/ Grace, M. (2013). Untouched. Smashwoods Edition.