Working with Chinese families in adolescent drug treatment

Abstract

Whilst ample evidence shows that family therapy is effective in adolescent drug treatment, there is little effort in Hong Kong to involve family members in treating adolescent drug abuse systematically. Yet, ironically, the place of the family has always been highly regarded in Hong Kong. This paper explores the themes of adolescent drug abuse in Chinese families, as well as the process of applying family therapy in a Chinese context using the structural family therapy model as a guide. Nine Hong Kong Chinese families were involved in family therapy treatment and five themes were generated from session notes and videotape transcriptions by the investigator. It is suggested that family therapy can effect change in adolescent drug abuse through changing family interactions and improving family functioning in a Chinese context. However, the need to consider the different roles of parents in the Chinese family is one issue that warrants special attention.