title: Treating substance abuse: partner and family approaches.
abstract: Historically, alcohol and other substance use disorders were viewed as individual-based problems that were most effectively treated by focusing on the diagnosed individual. However, in response to numerous clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy (and often superiority) of couple and family treatments for alcoholism and drug abuse, this emphasis on treating the individual has slowly given way to a greater awareness of family members' crucial roles in the etiology, maintenance, and long-term course of substance use and addictive behavior. As a result, clinicians are increasingly interested in understanding substance misuse from a systemic perspective and exploring how partner- and family-involved interventions may be used to address individuals' substance abuse.
authors.affiliation: Counseling and Psychology Department, Medaille College, Williamsville, NY 14221, USA. Kck35@medaille.edu
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klostermann
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: O'Farrell
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D019546:Couples Therapy; D005195:Family Relations; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome