Partner Enabling of Substance Use Disorders: Critical Review and Future Directions

Abstract

Substance use disorders affect not only the identified client but significant others as well. Dyadic and family dysfunction is typically associated with a family member's alcohol or drug abuse. One area of research interest based on clinical conceptions of these families is that of partner support or coping in response to the addiction. Female partners of male alcoholics have received much of this clinical and research attention, and have alternatively been labeled as codependents, co-alcoholics, or enablers. Broadening the therapeutic emphasis beyond the impaired individual underscores the systemic notion that a loved one's addiction necessarily affects spouses and partners, and that partner responses may in turn affect drink-ing or drug behaviors. The present article contrasts the enabling and codependency constructs, reviews empirical studies of enabling, and offers a conceptualization of partner responses to addiction that could enhance future research efforts and clinical applications in this area.

Exploring “Enabling Behaviours” of Wives of Persons with Substance Use Disorder in Chapter 8 of the Big Book of Alcoholic Anonymous

“…Significant others of a person with substance use disorder may employ diverse and often changing ways of coping with that person [11] . These ways of coping may influence the behaviours of the individual with substance use disorder [12,4,3] . Myers and Salt [13] postulated that in families with substance use disorder, those behaviors of the family members that contribute to the maintenance and expansion of the substance use disorder of the addicted individual are called enabling.…”

“…Enabling behaviour usually refers to the dysfunctional reactions of family members of a person with substance use disorder, that further eternalize drinking or drugging by the user. In spite of the wealth of literature on the importance of enabling behaviors by significant others of a person with substance use disorder, far fewer studies have been conducted on the nature of enabling behaviors [3,4] . Therefore, this study aimed to explore the concept of enabling behavior in Chapter 8 of Alcoholic Anonymous' Big Book.…”

Codependence with hypersexual and gambling disorder

“…Prevention services can be offered to children living with family members who have behavioral addictions. Addressing COD through marital, group, and family therapy helps family and friends detach from individuals with behavioral addictions, identify enabling behaviors (Rotunda & Doman, 2001), avoid feeling as if they are the problem, set healthy boundaries, rebuild positive relationships, utilize support systems, and learn new skills. It is critical that addiction service providers receive pre and post service training in behavioral addictions and related COD in family and friends.…”

“…Other typical symptoms of COD include preoccupation with others, lack of identity, repression of feelings, rescuing behaviors (Koffinke, 1991), and enabling. Enabling includes an array of conscious and unconscious behaviors that can simultaneously perpetuate or even support addictions in others while reducing stress in the co-dependent person(s) (Rotunda & Doman, 2001;Shain & Suurvali, 2003). Examples of enabling behaviors include covering up deviance, not expressing concern for unhealthy choices, dishonesty, minimizing risks, not enforcing policies at work, or not confronting disrespect.…”

The family therapy journals in 2001: a thematic review

“…In this case the diversity was founded upon a solid review of the field by Rotunda and Doman (2001). They discussed the evidence for the terms 'enabling and co-dependency' when applied to relationships between substance misusing individuals and their families.…”