Drug Abuse: A Family Affair?

Abstract

This investigation compares interpersonal behavior patterns of mothers of adolescent drug abusers with a comparison group of mothers reporting no drug abuse in their families. The Interpersonal System developed by Leary (8) was used in comparing 31 mothers of drug abusers at the Texas Research Institute's Drug Abuse Clinic with a group of mothers matched for age, education, ethnic background, and socio-economic status. The drug abuse mothers emerged as significantly more disidentified with their own mothers. Also, they described their husbands as significantly more critical and arrogant than did the control group. The drug abuse mothers described their children as significantly more resentful and bitter. Therapeutic and future research implications were suggested.