ABSTRACT
Family members’ communication shapes and is shaped by relationships with partners, siblings, parents, and children such that relationship processes are enmeshed with the trajectory of substance use disorders and illness. This chapter maps out the reciprocal impact of family members and continued substance use disorder. Research supporting inconsistent nurturing as control (INC) theory is used to explore the unique communication dynamics in sustaining or deterring family members’ substance use disorder. This chapter addresses foundations to better understand the mechanisms by which partners can help each other, children can help their parents, parents can help their adolescent/young adult children, and siblings can help each other in the familial battle against substance use disorder. This updated chapter reviews communication about substance use disorder and power dynamics within cohabitating (non-married) partners, siblings, and young adult-parent relationships; updates existing conceptualizations of codependency; discusses implications for treatment of substance use disorder in families; and considers how language can serve as a marker of addiction and recovery.
