Family health and the use of psychoactive substances

Substance abuse is spreading to countries previously unaffected, to all age groups, including the elderly, and to women: the potential impact of drug abuse on the family is therefore increasing while at the same time, the family can play a crucial role in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The family is the arena for learning healthy behaviour, including ways of handling problems associated with psychoactive substance use. The ability of family members to cope with life events is influenced by the available behavioural role models, the quality of communications among family members and the options a family has within the community. Strengthening the social network and families' coping mechanisms may reduce the demand for and the consequences of substance abuse by family members.