An Original Family Disease Model: Is It Still Effective?
John Walsh CADC , BRII
Family Support Groups
Family support groups in existence for over 180
years
Part of temperance movement of 19th century
Martha Washington Society for adults
Junior auxiliaries
Al-Anon 1951 Alateen 1957
Professional Family Illness Models
Joan Jackson-1954,The Adjustment of the Family to the
Crisis of Alcoholism
Dorothy Petraitis-Family Systems Therapist. Behaviors
intersect with emotions when addiction present.
Barbara Campbell-The Concerned Persons Project 1975
Claudia Black-1982 It Will Never Happen To Me
Janet Woititz- Adult Children of Alcoholics
Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse – Another Chance
1985
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The Chemically Dependent
The Chief Enabler
The Hero
The Scapegoat
The Lost Child
The Mascot
Subsequent Significant Works
Robert Ackerman Ph.D.- Intervening Variables for
Effect. All models more dynamic than rigid because
of circumstances.
Melody Beattie- Codependent No More.
John Bradshaw- Portrayal of harmful shame as a
bonding agent in the CD family
Dr. Stephanie Brown- Her works forced the realization
that families can’t rapidly regain health following the
initiation of addiction recovery
Variations of These Models Caused by Drug Addiction
and Younger Affected Alcoholics/Addicts
• Some drug addiction causes crashing to bottom versus
sliding to bottom seen in prior models.
• Family adaption is therefore different as a result of some
of the following adolescent family characteristics
• 1.Use is more hidden because of age and legal
ramifications.
• 2.Higher potency per ingestion , quicker pathways to
brain ,therefore significantly shorter time frame for
maximum physiological response.
• 3.Discovery of problem creates instant turmoil and chaos
in family.
• 4.Responses more dramatized and sometimes traumatic.
Young Adult or Adult Still Dependent on Family. Ages
19-60
• No more legal necessity to “take care of”.
• MORE enabling from parents , grandparents , ex-spouses
, children , and others.
• More abuse of parents and grandparents( stealing ,
threatening behavior verbally, physically and emotionally.
• Explosion and cost of current drug usage.
• Siblings and others angry and isolated from parents.
• Parents and grandparents generally at odds over what to
do.
• Increased shame, guilt, embarrassment, fear, and
humiliation.
Treatment’s Response to the Debilitating Effects of
Family Illness
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Open AA meetings where family members could attend
Al-Anon meetings(institutional style)
Al-Anon meetings(open to community)
Alateen meetings
Visitation tied to attendance at facility Al-anon
Family week
Family program-3 days
IOP family lecture or day or night.
Traditional Outpatient- some family members find
treatment for their specific issues.
My Response to Treatment Response
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WOEFULLY INADEQUATE
My Challenge to Us
• Never do a presentation without mentioning family
• Never do an assessment, intake ,admission, or consult
without attempting to have family involvement
• 50 to 85% of the alcoholics/addicts you treat came
from a chemically dependent family themselves, think
about what this means
• If you can’t Treat the family member, send them to
somebody that can and will
• Make yourself part of the new paradigm of treating
family