Abstract
Background
Limited research exists on how family members of adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) are affected by their relatives’ entry into treatment. This is the first study to solely examine the experiences of family members following a relative’s enrollment in heroin-assisted treatment (HAT).
Methods
The study explored how participants’ situations and those of their relatives, including their relational dynamics were impacted by HAT enrollment. We conducted 18 in-depth qualitative interviews with ten family members of individuals in HAT, employing a thematic analysis of the data.
Results
Three main areas of impact were identified: effects on family members, on their relatives, and on their relationship. Participants reported reduced emotional and financial burdens, although many expressed ambivalence about treatmentt with medical heroin. They saw benefits for their relatives in HAT, such as increased stability and improvements in daily life, but noted that the treatment’s demands limited family activities. While the stabilization of their relatives positively influenced relationships, participants struggled to include them in family gatherings due to treatment restrictions.
Conclusion
The findings emphasize how treatment impacts both the individual receiving care and their family members, highlighting the interconnectedness of their well-being, which has crucial implications for clinical practice, research, and policy.
Citation:
Ellefsen, Rune, De Pirro, Silvana, & Couëssurel Wüsthoff, Linda Elise. Relational hope and despair: heroin-assisted treatment as experienced by the patients’ family members. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 2025; 1–14.