NCJ Number
7872
Date Published
1972
Length
327 pages
Annotation
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR AFFECTING DRUG ABUSE.
Abstract
WITH THE GROWING PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUTH, COMES THE OBVIOUS QUESTION OF WHY CERTAIN TYPES OF PEOPLE USE ILLICIT DRUGS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO ATTACK THE DRUG PROBLEM AT THIS SOURCE RATHER THAN OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHICH CAN ONLY SERVE AS AUXILIARY SOURCES OF SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE. INTERVIEWS, INDIVIDUAL SELF-RATINGS, OBSERVATIONS, AND VIDEOTAPED EXPERIMENTAL SITUATIONS WERE USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO DELINEATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DRUG USING YOUNG AND THEIR FAMILY BACKGROUNDS. FAMILIES FROM BLACK, MEXICAN-AMERICAN, AND POOR, MIDDLE-CLASS AND UPPER-CLASS WHITE BACKGROUNDS ARE ALL REPRESENTED IN THE STUDIES. ALSO OF INTEREST IS A STUDY WHICH INVESTIGATED CHILD REARING PRACTICES OF YOUNG HIPPIE FAMILIES IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE RESEARCHERS WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH AID IN PREDICTING WHICH CHILDREN IN WHICH FAMILIES WILL MOST LIKELY ABUSE DRUGS. ALTHOUGH THESE STUDIES EMPLOYED A SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY, THE FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED IN NARRATIVE MANNER AND LEND THEMSELVES TO READY APPLICATION. (SNI ABSTRACT)