FAMILY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HEAD OF FAMILY’S ADDICTION: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background and Aim : Background: Substance abuse is regarded as major concerns in the world, which, in addition to affecting the physical, emotional and social dimensions of the addict, causes problems for their family members. Aims: To explain the experiences of the family members that affected by head of family’s addiction. Methods : This is a qualitative study conducted in 2018. Research environment included state and private drug treatment centers in Gorgan. Sampling was done purposefully. The data were subjected to 36 in-depth and semi-structured interviews (11 children with the substance abuser father, 15 wives of the substance abuser individual, 10 therapists and related officials) and analyzed using the qualitative approach of the conventional content analysis by Granheim s method.Results : Results are divided into four main classes: (1) psychological and physical disadvantages included three subclasses of family psychological breakdown, Family deprivation in term of emotional, physical health concern, 2) Social isolators consisted of three subclasses of disadvantaged social status, family violating norms, and addiction as a family phenomenon, 3) Disrupted family included three subclasses of decline in sex, Rule of doubt in the family and marital conflicts, and 4) Economic constraint consisted of the family deprivation financially and addiction in contrast to welfare.Conclusion : The researcher hopes that the findings of the present study help to nurses at improving the physical, mental and social health of family members that affected by head of family’s addiction