Perceptions of the family of origin in adolescent drug users

This paper sets out to present the research outcomes regarding the perceptions of various family environment aspects in adolescent drug users. The research project adheres to family systems theory in its understanding of the family and the suggestions for supporting it. Three research questions were explored: (1) Does family support and parental control in the study group differ significantly between the childhood period and the later “addiction” phase? (2) Do adolescent drug users differ in their respective perceptions of their fathers’ and mothers’ parental attitudes? (3) Do selected areas of family functioning in codependent families differ according to the type of drugs used by adolescents (hard or soft)? The study group (N = 55) consisted of adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age who began therapy in drug rehabilitation centers. Three measurement tools were used in the study FACES IV-SOR (adapted into Polish by Margasiński), Parental Attitude Scales(in the version designed for young people) by Plopa, and the My Family questionnaire developed by the author. The obtained outcomes demonstrate that family support is rated as higher in childhood than in later life. Adifference in the respective perceptions of fathers’ and mothers’ parental attitudes has been observed on two scales: acceptance-rejection (mothers are perceived as more understanding than fathers) and Overprotectiveness (mothers are more often perceived as overprotective). Two differences have been discovered in the functioning of codependent families: (1) young people addicted to hard drugs are less attached to their family then those who use soft drugs; (2) young people addicted to hard drugs are more likely to perceive their mothers as inconsistent.