PRINCIPLES
AND TECHNIQUES
While engaging
families in treatment is a major problem in the addic-tion field, there is almost no literature on how to
do this in prac-tice. Aside from an occasional pointer in a few articles,'4, 2". ".."6, [8°
the therapist trying to recruit
addicts' families—or even difficult nondrug-
families—is essentially without published guidelines. This chapter will attempt, at least partially, to fill
that void and provide therapists with
material aimed at optimizing the recruitment effort.
The material in this section is subdivided into
various content areas. Within each of these, one or more
principles are set forth, followed by explanation and discussion. The
reader may note an air of finality in these principles. This is not
altogether unintentional. While every rule has exceptions, these tenets
have been arrived at through the pain of multiple failures, so we feel
we can state them with a certain degree of confidence.
