Relationship Toolkit: Addictions

The following is a handout provided by Dr. Lisa Merchant for a recent Speaker Series on addiction.

 

Addiction & the Family

Family First Series

Lisa Merchant, Ph.D., LMFT

 

Risk Factors	Protective Factors
Individual Factors	Individual Factors ·       Hx of physical/sexual abuse ·       ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, CD, & Bulimia ·       Use before age 14* ·       White—maybe? ·       Male Family Factors ·       Two-parent family (increased monitoring) ·       Parental monitoring ·       Family cohesion ·       Regular, quality communication ·       Time together after school ·       Parental disapproval of SU ·       Family obligations ·       Family assistance (low conflict) Peer Factors ·       Peer disapproval Social & Community Factors ·       School disapproval ·       School with more minority students ·       Family obligation at a cultural level
·       Hx of physical/sexual abuse ·       ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, CD, & Bulimia ·       Use before age 14* ·       White—maybe? ·       Male Family Factors ·       Low parental monitoring ·       Low parental warmth ·       Low family cohesion ·       Permissive attitudes toward use ·       Parental use/hx of SUD ·       Family assistance (high conflict) Peer Factors ·       Peer use ·       Victim of bullying ·       Antisocial peers ·       Fatalism Social & Community Factors ·       Drug use in the neighborhood ·       Media portrayals of use

 

 

Suggestions for Preventing Substance abuse in our Kids

 

Individal Factors:

• Teach emotional regulation and self-control
• Enroll child in activities that promote discipline, self-control, and confidence (martial arts, gymnastics, music…)
• Get help for ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating d/o…
• Protect children from physical and sexual abuse; protect the child and seek help if they are abused
• Encourage a personal faith

 

Family Factors:

• Be warm and affectionate with your children
• Establish traditions that build family cohesion (Saturday we eat a big breakfast together, Sunday we go to church, annual family vacation, Thanksgiving we go to Grandma’s).
• Check in with your kids daily
• Talk to your kids about drinking and drug use—let them know you disapprove ESPECIALLY if it is present elsewhere in their lives
• Address your marriage issues; reduce conflict in the home
• Know who your kid’s friends are, where they are going, and what they are up to
• Let kids help around the house and let older kids care for younger kids to some extent
• Don’t let your children drink at home

 

PEER FACTORS:

• Be cautious about who your children hang with
• Encourage them to hang with people who disapprove of drug use and with a positive (non-fatalistic), pro-social outlook
• Express your disapproval of use if they are around others who use
• Protect your child from bullying (and from bullying others)

 

Social & community Factors:

• Support your school’s anti-drug campaign (volunteer, donate, or start one)
• Talk to your kids about use they see in the neighborhood or in media