Positive Family Relationships Can Counter Risk Factors for Drug Abuse

Research at the University of Missouri suggests a strong link between a strong family background and religious affiliation with reduced risk factors for addiction.

When it comes to alcohol and drug addiction, there are several factors which can determine a person’s propensity for having addiction problems. While there are some genetic factors, many other risk factors are environmental. A person’s upbringing is one factor; past research has suggested a link between a person growing up in a household with drug, alcohol or prescription drug abuse and their likelihood for future addiction.

New research from the University of Missouri suggests that there are deeper links between a person’s family background and their likelihood to end up in a drug rehab program. Researchers studied family relationships within American-Indian communities — statistically the groups where drug and alcohol addiction is most common. Researchers discovered that having positive family relationships along with an active religious affiliation appears to be a key factor in limiting the risk of addiction for American-Indian teens and eventually treatment in an addiction program.

According to ManSoo Yu, assistant professor in the MU School of Social Work and Public Health Program, the findings suggest that fostering a supportive family environment should be a key element to any prevention or drug addiction intervention program.

“Healthy relationships protect adolescents against exposure to violence and negative social environments, and therefore, may lower their risk for drug involvement,” Yu said. “Practitioners also can encourage adolescents to connect with religious organizations, which can reduce negative peer influence and increase positive family relationships.”

The research showed that having a positive family background or religious involvement acts as a mediating factor which counteracts several factors which can otherwise increase a person’s risk factors for drug and alcohol abuse. According to the research, negative outside factors such as addicted family members, violence victimization and a bad school environment can be negated by having a positive overall family structure, helping to keep a person from the type of drug addiction that ends with them in a rehab center.