The Role of Death in the Addict Family

Abstract

Drug addiction is a potentially life‐threatening problem with suicidal ramifications. Within the family of the addict, the addiction takes on a special, participatory meaning; the addicted member is treated as one undergoing a slow death. These families attach special significance to death and give it considerable emphasis. This appears to arise from unresolved and premature deaths experienced by the family, particularly the parents. The addict is substituted for the deceased member. Treatment can deal with these issues directly through making the mourning explicit. The death issue can also serve as a vehicle for family change.

Bereavement: A family life cycle perspective

“…Family members struggle to comprehend these destructive acts, often ruminating over what might have made a difference (Dunne & Dunne-Maxim, 2004). Research by Coleman and Stanton (1978) found that the impact of multiple traumatic losses in the families of drug addicts contributed to their self-destructive behavior.…”

Bereavement Following Substance Misuse

“…They may be unexpected in that families were unaware of the substance misuse or all the associated risks (Da Silva et al, 2007;Coleman & Stanton, 1978;Schneider, 2009;Strang et al, 2008). In a Brazilian study of six families, in which a member had died from drug overdose, three were aware of the substance misuse and three were not.…”

Anticipatory Loss: A Family Systems Developmental Framework

“…In the family‐systems literature, the scant attention to loss has focused on the impact of prior unresolved losses on later family life (5, 9, 17, 27, 47), or redefining family boundaries in the context of ambiguous loss (4). The threat of loss touches more closely on the existential fact of our own mortality as an anticipated future event we may need to deny (2).…”