FAMILY VARIABLES IN SUBSTANCE-MISUSING MALE-ADOLESCENTS - THE IMPORTANCE OF MATERNAL DISORDER

Selected family variables, especially maternal behaviors, were studied as predictors of alcohol and drug misuse in severely disturbed adoles cent boys from largely father-absent homes. The families of 50 male yo uths (mean age 15.8 years) in a residential center for alcohol and sub stance misuse were compared with the families of a community control g roup (mean age 16.3 years). Within-subject group comparisons also were made. Family structure, interactive processes, maternal and paternal alcohol and substance use, and criminality were assessed through direc t interview and/or self-report. The families of alcohol-and substance- misusing boys were markedly disadvantaged or impaired on numerous fami ly structure, process, and substance-misusing behavioral variables in comparison with community controls. Within the alcohol-and substance-m isusing group itself, family process variables, maternal alcohol sympt oms, and maternal criminality differentiated boys with more vs. less s evere drug-dependence symptoms. Maternal alcohol problems and criminal ity were more important than family process variables. Paternal alcoho l or substance misuse or criminality did not differentiate proband sym ptom severity. We concluded that maternal alcohol symptoms and crimina lity differentiate severity of drug dependence in severely disturbed, substance-misusing adolescent males from largely father-absent homes. Maternal substance misuse should be evaluated carefully in adolescent substance abuse treatment settings.