Contemporary Family Systems Approach to Substance Abuse (Report)

Contemporary Family Systems Approach to Substance Abuse This paper will address theoretical and clinical issues that challenge family therapists treating families dealing with substance abuse, specifically alcohol. A contemporary family systems approach to substance abuse seeks to understand how the relational patterns of family members are not only recursively shaped by the presence of a family member actively abusing substances, but also how the families' potential for growth and development throughout the family life cycle may be restricted.