The Family, Ethics, and Substance Abuse
The Family, Ethics, and Substance Abuse
Introduction
You have been introduced to the classifications and addictive properties of various substances, and the potential risks of cross-tolerance and poly-substance abuse. Now it is time to examine how substance abuse and addiction occur and what their impact is, particularly in relation to family roles and dynamics.
This week, you will examine characteristics of families of substance abusers and consider the interaction between family roles and dynamics and substance abuse and addiction. You also will analyze ethical and legal considerations related to counseling families in which substance abuse and addiction are of concern.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this week, you should be able to:
? Analyze and explain how family roles and dynamics interact with substance abuse and addiction
? Explain the unique characteristics of and complications within families of substance abusers
? Analyze ethical and legal considerations related to counseling families of substance abusers
Learning Resources
Readings
? Course Text: Substance Abuse Counseling
o Chapter 9, “Family Treatment” (pp. 240?253 only)
Web Sites
? American Counseling Association (ACA). ACA Code of Ethics. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/docs/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=4
Application: Family Roles and Dynamics
The roles and dynamics within families of substance abusers are without a doubt complex. Whereas substance abuse by a family member has considerable psychological impact on other members of the family, the structure of the family often develops in such a way that it holds substance abuse in place and leads to cycles of addiction for future generations. In this Application, you will consider how family roles and dynamics interact with substance abuse and addiction, in order to have a more informed perspective on the ways that substance abuse and addiction are perpetuated.
To prepare for this assignment:
? Review this week’s Learning Resources, focusing on the information about the roles and dynamics of an addictive family.
? Carefully consider the psychological and physiological effects of substance abuse.
? Reflect on the roles and dynamics of an addictive family system.
? Think about the interaction between family roles and dynamics and substance abuse and addiction.
? Based on your field of interest, review and reflect on the IAMFC or ACA ethical codes related to counseling families.
? Consider the potential ethical and/or legal concerns related to counseling families of substance abusers.
The assignment: (2?3 pages)
? Describe two or more ways that family roles and dynamics interact with substance abuse and addiction, using specific examples.
? Describe two or more unique characteristics of and/or complications within families of substance abusers, using specific examples.
? Identify and explain two or more potential ethical and legal concerns related to counseling families of substance abusers, using specific examples.
Support your Application assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resourcesnot included in the Learning Resources for this course