Family of origin ties among young adult clients at an inner city methadone maintenance clinic

The study examines the relationship between young adult methadone maintenance clients and their families-of-origin. Specifically, the study asks: (1) What percentage of methadone maintenance clients are presently living with their families-of-origin? (2) What is their frequency of contact with the family-of-origin? (3) What is the proximity of their residence to that of the family-of-origin? (4)What types of problems-in-living are they presently experiencing? and (5) Are family-of-origin relationships of methadone maintenance clients significantly different from those of non-methadone subjects? The methadone group consisted of 33 methadone maintenance clients. The comparison group consisted of 56 similar individuals who were not involved in drug abuse or methadone maintenance. Both groups were further divided into younger subsamples (18-29) and older subsamples (30-39). Data was gathered by the use of a specially constructed questionnaire. Statistically significant relationships were found between: (1) the younger subsamples and the current living situation; (2) group membership and parental marital status; (3) group membership and visitations to father; (4) group membership and frequency of telephone calls to father: and (5) group membership and proximity of residency to mother. Finally, the methadone group had significantly more problems in living than did the comparison group. It was concluded that the younger methadone subsample experienced more difficulty leaving home, while the older methadone subsample's living situation resembled that of the comparison group. Methadone clients, living on their own, tended to maintain enmeshed relationships with their mothers, and detached relationships with their fathers. This study points to the importance of including family members in the treatment of methadone maintenance clients.