PARENTAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SUBSTANCE USE AMONG METHADONE PATIENTS - THE IMPACT ON LEVELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMATOLOGY

The relationship between parental substance use problems (SUPs) and th e quality of parental relationships with levels of psychological sympt omatology was examined in 155 female and 324 male methadone maintenanc e patients. Subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SC L-90, and the Treatment Effectiveness Questionnaire (TEQ), which inclu ded questions regarding demographics, drug use, family/social relation ships, and substance use in relatives. Of those completing the questio nnaire, 40% were randomly selected for an Addiction Severity Index (AS I) interview. As hypothesized, parental SUPs were associated with grea ter levels of psychological symptomatology, more family/social, and me dical problems. Positive parental relationships were associated with s ignificantly lower levels of psychological symptomatology and fewer fa mily/social problems. Males were significantly more likely than female s to report positive parental relationships and no parental SUPs. No d ifferences based on race were revealed related to reports of the quali ty parental relationships or parental SUPs.