AN INTERVIEW FOR FAMILIES OF DRUG USERS

Temple University, Philadelphia PA

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract): This is a revision of grant application DA 1272-01, The Family Impact Survey: An Interview for Families of Drug Users, which was reviewed in March 1999. This research will further the development of the Family Impact Survey; a comprehensive assessment tool that measures the special problems faced by family member and significant others (FSOs) of drug abusers. The instrument addresses drug and alcohol use of family members and seven problem areas: Emotional, Relationship, Lifestyle, Legal, Financial, Health, and Physical Abuse. While research has documented increased prevalence of illness and increased domestic violence among FSOs of drug users, most studies have focused on psychological and interpersonal functioning of the family members of alcoholics. Systematic research exploring multiple aspects of the problems faced by FSOs of variety of drug users is virtually nonexistent, despite acknowledgment in both professional and lay literature that drug addiction affects the entire family. One factor hindering a comprehensive approach to the problems faced these FSOs is the lack of a multidimensional instrument to assess the wide range of problems they face. The Family Impact Survey collects standard, comprehensive, clinically pertinent information about the wide variety, of problems that beset families of drug abusers. This research will utilize a broad clinical sample to establish the interrater agreement and test-retest reliability of the instrument, develop standardized scores for different areas of the instrument, conduct psychometric/statistical analyses to refine the areas, establish internal consistency, and determine inter-correlation of problem area scores. The work proposed does not complete all the steps necessary for establishing a psychometrically sound instrument. Later studies will address issues of instrument validity and will examine whether the psychometric properties initially established here are maintained with a much large, representatively sampled population. Further development of this instrument is an important step in better understanding the impact of drug abuse on families, informing clinical assessment and treatment planning facilitating clinical research, and developing health policy for drug abuse treatment and for individuals dealing with the stress of a close relationship with a drug user. In addition, it could be a useful outcome measure in drug abuse treatment, providing information about improvements and cost-offsets that extend beyond the drug abuser to his or her family.