The Role of Heroin Addiction on Family Dynamics - Literature review Example

?A qualitative exploration of the role of heroin addiction on the family dynamics of British Asian Muslim families Heroin addiction Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid drug synthesized a derivative of opium poppy called morphine. The drug is used for medicinal purposes, recreational purposes and conducting heroin assisted treatment. Apart from these legal uses, heroin is also peddled illegally and is sold in the streets to drug users. Heroin is highly addictive and its prolonged leads to addiction. Heroin addiction can be described as a situation in which a person cannot control their uptake of heroin despite their knowledge of its negative/adverse effects. This means it creates physical as well as psychological dependency and in this state, the drug controls the behaviors of its users. Stanton (1985) explains that this state normally begins with the development of a devastating dependency on the recreational use of the drug. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) rejects the use of the word addiction and instead, they use the word dependency. DSM definition of substance dependency states that when a person persists in consumption of alcohol or taking other drugs despite the problems associated with the use of the substance, then drug/substance dependency may be diagnosed (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2010). Whichever the definition taken, the underlying force behind addictions or dependencies is uncontrolled uptake. The role of Heroin addiction on the family dynamics of British Asian Muslim families Heroin addiction results to devastating effects on the behavioural patterns/psychological states and physiological processes of its users. However, these devastating effects are not limited to the individual user. They extend to a larger number of people and this mainly includes the people closer to that person like relatives, friends, classmates workmates and much more, the family. It has been found out that heroin addiction has role to play in the family dynamics. A better understanding of this achieved by making a qualitative exploring psychological theories on family dynamics. This paper analyses on one of these theories namely the Family Systems Theory, a theory postulated by Murray Bowen. The discussions are based on British Asian Muslim families. According to Bowen, families are complex units of people bond together by strong emotional connections. The ways in which individual members of a family relate to each other and in relation to the whole group is referred to as family dynamics. According to the family systems theory, people cannot be understood in isolation or separate from one another instead, they are understood as part of their family. This is mainly because the family is an emotional unit and the family is basically a system of interdependent and interconnected individuals who can never be understood isolation from the system (Papero 1990). In the family, each member has rules to respect and roles to play and all members are required to respond to each other in a particular way in relation to their roles. These roles are normally determined by the relationship agreements they make. Because of their outlined roles, members behave in a predictable way within this system. If these behaviour are constructive, their maintenance results to a balance in the family system. This means a change in roles or these constructive behaviours leads to a shift in the family’s equilibrium (Russell 2000). In the Family Systems Theory, there are eight interlocking concepts. The first is triangle, denoting the smallest relationship system that is stable. Others include family projection process, multigenerational transmission process, emotional cutoff, sibling position, societal emotional process and the nuclear family emotional unit/system. In the nuclear family emotional unit/system concept, there are four relationship patterns that explain where problems may arise from in a family. These are marital conflict, emotional disturbance, dysfunction in one spouse and impairment in one or more of the children (Papero 1990). Application Heroin addiction can lead to emotional disturbance and this can be displayed as depression or even aggression. In a typical British Asian Muslim family, heroin addiction by one or more of its members affects the family especially in terms of relationship and roles. For example if the husband becomes depressed and cannot respond to his responsibilities, the wife will be forced to take up more roles to bridge this gap and this already indicates a shift in equilibrium (Morrissey et al 2008). Marina (2007) states that if the addicted member is experiencing aggression, this psychological state can trigger them to start up constant physical fights against other family members. This leads to physical, mental and emotional injuries to other family members. This means that the heroin addiction removes moral values like gentleness and love among family members. A continuation or an increase in this can eventually lead to dissolution of the family. According to Marina (2005), heroin addiction transforms the behavioural patterns of all members of a family. It is obvious that the change in the behaviour of the addict is a result of the effects of heroin. However, other family members are placed in a state of emotional strain as a result of trying to keep the family together. In a British Asian Muslim family, the existing situation forces the other family members to take on unhealthy, dysfunctional roles. Bruce (1987) explains that with time, these roles develop into long-lasting patterns of dysfunctional relationships. Conyers (2003) states that the spouse who is not addicted to heroin becomes co-dependent and the result of this is a lifelong, dysfunctional form of relating for everybody. Marina (2007) adds that children from a British Asian Muslim family characterized by heroin addiction often shift to unhealthy ways of interacting and this applies both to home and school settings. If the addicts are the children, it threatens the power relations in the family because the children no longer want to be under parental guidance. Drug abuse among Muslim families is something that is strongly condemned and this state can trigger the other family members to isolate the addict. Handelsman and Aronson (1992) state that the addict can also isolate themselves because of the fear of exposing what they are struggling with. Conclusion Heroin is a very addictive drug and its addiction to it can be defined in terms of uncontrollable dependency on the drug. Heroin addiction has a great impact on the family dynamics and this mainly touches on how family members relate to one another. Generally, heroin addiction leads to a strain in relationship between family members because of the resultant destructive behavioral patterns. It also leads to a change on the communication patterns, roles and power relations. A change in these relationships normally begins with the addict and then it spreads to the other family members as they try to respond to the emotional, physical and psychological strains they experience. References Bruce Alexander. (1987) “The disease and adaptive models of addiction: A framework evaluation,” Journal of Drug Issues (17) pp. 47–66. Conyers Beverly (2003). Addiction in the family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery. Hazelden Publishing. London. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2010). DSM-IV & DSM-IV-TR:Substance Dependence. Online: http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/subdep.htm. Accessed on 20th August, 2011. Handelsman Leonard and Aronson Marvin (1992). “The dysphoria of heroin addiction.” American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. (1) pp 25-36. Marina Barnard (2005). Drugs in the Family: The Impact on Parents and Siblings. Joseph Rowntree Foundation Marina Barnard (2007). Drug addiction and families. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. London. Morrissey Jean, Keogh Jenm and Doyle Brian (2008). Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Dekker. New York. Papero Daniel (1990). Bowen family Systems theory. Allyn and Bacon. Boston Stanton Peele. (1985). The Meaning of Addiction. Compulsive Experience and Its Interpretation. Lexington Books. Lexington. Russell Searight (2000). Family psychology: Theories of family dynamics (Vol. 3). PsycBOOKS. London. Read More