ABSTRACT
Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) often disregard family roles and responsibilities, behave erratically, and have inconsistent emotional expression that can result in verbal or physical altercations. The Effects of Substance Use Disorders on Family Systems is an experiential activity for increasing clients' awareness of how family members are affected by SUDs, relapse, and recovery. General systems theory also suggests that family members' behaviors are interdependent. Change in one family member subsequently affects other family members. Group members are also informed that they must keep their arm extended. The therapist may inform members that keeping their arm extended represents the work necessary to keep a family system functioning properly. Family structure is "a set of repetitive patterns of interactions within the family system". Families where SUDs are present typically display maladaptive structures, which are characterized by members interacting in ways that are potentially harmful to one another.
