research on addiction

Objective: The present study aimed at validating partners' checklist among the family members of drug abusers. Method: A descriptive research design was used in this study. The number of 397 participants of the families referring to addiction clinics in Semnan Province was randomly selected as the sample units. Results: Reliability in the frequency range was variable from .57 (healthy) to .81 (financial) and, in intensity dimension, ranged from .53 (Social/Emotional) to .81 (conflict with legal authorities/government), respectively. The validity evidence showed that functioning was significantly different between families with and without receiving financial assistance from support organizations; and between families with and without a case in the courts in terms of the subscales of the instrument. Scores of financial and social/emotional subscales; association with financial and emotional expression subscales; and relations between Marriage Performance Questionnaire were statistically significant. The subscale physical abuse had a statistically significant association with Aggression Questionnaire. Different models of frequency and intensity of experienced problems depending on the type of life partner were observed. The most common problem of life partners (parent/spouse) was observed in frequency dimension and lifestyle, communication and social/emotional subscales; and in intensity dimension and social/emotional subscale. Conclusion: The Life Partners Checklist is a valid and reliable instrument in identifying the frequency and intensity of drug abusers' family problems and some subscales are sensitive to the effects of interventions.