Table 1 Summary of included studies

Wiarsih et al. [24]

Indonesia

Phenomenological analysis of qualitative interviews.

7 In-depth interviews with Addiction Affected Family members using the snowball sampling method

To explore experiences of families with drug-using children

 +  + 

The interviews were only with parents. The periods that the children used drugs and the health services accessed by families should have been identified.

McCann et al. [25]

Australia

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of a qualitative interviews

31 Semi-structured interviews with Addiction Affected Family members using the Purposive sampling method (14 parents, 13 couples, 4 siblings).

To understand affected family members- AFMs’ experience of aggression and violence while supporting a member with PSU, and to explicate the strategies they used to prevent and cope with this behavior.

 +  + 

Findings are context-bound to the participants

Fewer men than women in the research.

Incerti et al. [26]

Australia

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

In-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guide, with 13 sisters of substance abusers, using purposive sampling method.

To address significant gap, and draw upon DeFrain’s (1999) six qualities of a strong family to answer the research question: “Does a person’s problematic substance use impact upon their sibling relationships? “

 +  + 

Small sample size

The findings cannot be generalized to the wider community.

Barnard et al. [27]

Scotland

Deviant case analysis of qualitative interviews

Semi-structured interviews with: 24 drug users, 20 parents, 20 siblings, 10 experts

To explore influence that a problem drug-using sibling might exert on the initiation of a brother or sister into drug use and how parents might respond to such a threat and the ways in which families adapted in response to family members who developed drug problems.

 + 

Small sample size

McCann et al. [28]

Australia

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of a qualitative interviews.

31 Semi-structured interviews with Addiction Affected Family members using the Purposive sampling method (14 parents, 13 couples, 4 siblings)

To explore the experience of AFMs who support a close relative with AOD misuse

+  + 

The findings are context-bound

Participants were predominantly females.

Hoeck and Van Hal [29]

Finland

Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews

12 in-depth interviews with parents of substance abusing young people

To explore experiences of parents of substance-abusing young people attending support groups regarding several topics related to the substance-abuse of their son or daughter, the impact on their lives and their views on social support.

+  + 

The small group of parents interviewed

The majority of the participants were women.

The type of drug abuse was only reported by the involved parent.

Rodrigues et al. [30]

Brazil

exploratory, analytical, qualitative and comprehensive study

The participant observation of the family groups and 15 In-depth interviews with family members

To understand family members’ feelings about drug addiction.

 + 

Having at most two family members as respondents, due to the difficulty of contacting the whole group.

Not adding the experiences of the drug dependent himself.

McCann and Lubman [31]

Australia

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of a qualitative interviews.

Semi-structured interviews with 31 Addiction Affected Family members

to understand affected family members (AFMs)’ experience of stigma within the context of substance misuse, and to explicate what steps, if any, they took to try to counteract stigma and social isolation.

+  + 

Different stigma experience between AFMs involved in peer support groups, or those whose family member is in recovery.

Wilson et al. [32]

Australia

Thematic analysis of synchronous online counselling transcripts of partners

100 synchronous online counselling transcripts of partners of individuals with problem alcohol or other drug use

To explore the breadth of interpersonal impacts on a broader range of partners, to better inform service provision.

+  + 

The number of male transcripts was lower than women. The data were sourced from online counselling transcripts, therefore, the findings may not be representative of the interpersonal impacts partners would seek help for in a face-to-face context.

Ólafsdóttir [33]

Iceland

Mixed-methods and Phenomenological Analysis of qualitative interviews

16 semi-structured interviews with four spouses/ partners, four parents, four siblings, and four (adult) children of individuals with substance abuse problem

To explore how family members of individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) experience its effect on the mental health and psychosocial state of other family members and the family system

+  +

Small sample size All participants shared a willingness to participate in family group therapy. It was the only researcher to carry out all of the interviews, analysis, and interpretation of the data.

Arlappa et al. [8]

India

Case Study with An Exploratory Analysis

10 households case studies with drug-dependent members and Focused Group Discussions with the youth and women of the concerned families living and 10 Semi-structured interviews with them

To explore the impact of addiction in a family

 + 

No discussion of limitations

Salter and Clark [34]

England

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

10 Semi-structured interviews with parents of drug users.

To conduct a detailed qualitative analysis into the impact of substance misuse on the family, from the point of view of parents of drug users

+  +

Small sample size

A huge variability exists between families. The treatment that participants in the sample had received is likely to have influenced their experiences in some way.

Groenewald [35]

South Africa

Case Study with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

A case report of a mother coping with an adolescent who has a drug use problem

To explore lived experience of a mother with an adolescent drug abuser

 + 

No discussion of limitations

W. Choate [36]

Canada

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

Semi-structured interviews with adult caregivers of 21 teenagers with alcohol or drug abuse problem

To explore the parental perspective as they attempted to adapt and cope with substance dependency in their teenage children

 +  + 

The siblings have not been interviewed directly.

Less intense interventions have been successful with a similar population

Using a convenience sample.

Jackson et al. [37]

Australia

Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews

In-depth interviews with 18 parents of drug-abusing young people

To develop understandings into the effects of adolescent drug use on family life

 +  + 

Small sample size.

The sample was limited to people who could read and converse fluently in English.

Usher et al. [38]

Australia

Phenomenological hermeneutic approach with Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews

In-depth interviews with 18 parents of adolescents with substance abuse problem

To describe and construct an interpretation of the lived experiences of parenting an adolescent who abuses illicit substances

 +  + 

The recruitment method (parents who did not respond to the media campaign may have a different story to tell).

Orford et al. [39]

England- Mexico

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

24 Semi-structured interviews with 12 English and 12 matched Mexican family members

To explore experiences of stress and pressure in affected family members in England and Mexico and discovering the cultural differences between them.

 + 

Small sample size.

Few male transcripts

Few partners transcripts.

Bulter and Bauld [40]

England

Framework analysis approach of qualitative interviews

22 Semi-structured interviews with parents of heroin users and staff from a support agency that worked with families affected by drug use

To explore the role of the organization in supporting families affected by drug misuse

 + 

The sample was not random.

The recruitment method.

W. Choate [41]

Canada

Qualitative review of qualitative interviews (content analysis)

Semi-structured interviews with 31 parents or caregivers of 21 adolescents

To explore the process that parents experienced, how they sought intervention and the ways in which support systems aided or hindered

 + 

Using a convenience sample.

The siblings have not been interviewed.

Groenewald and Bhana [42]

South Africa

Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of a qualitative interviews.

In-depth interview and 5 case reports of a mothers of adolescents troubled by substance abuse

To explore mothers’ experiences of living with an adolescent with substance use problems

 +  + 

No discussion of limitations

Velleman et al. [43]

England

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of qualitative interviews

Semi-structured interviews with 50 close relatives of identified problem drug users

To describe the various experiences to which family members told us they had been exposed; and to describe the various effects to which these experiences led.

 + 

Limited discussion of limitations

Masombuka [44]

South Africa

Explorative, descriptive and contextual research design

8 Semi-structured interviews with parents of children with addiction problem

To explore parents‟ experience and support needs with regard to their children’s addiction to nyaope

 +  + 

Small sample size.

The recruitment method (Only parents who reached out for help, only parents who were conversant in English, Setswana)

Limiting the gender perspective (Few male transcripts).

Jackson and Mannix [45]

Australia

Exploratory-descriptive study

Conversational style interviews with 12 mothers

To explore the perspective of mothers of adolescent cannabis use

 + 

The recruitment method (only Anglo-Australian middle class women living in two Australian states)

Arcidiacono et al. [46]

Italia

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

Semi-structured interviews with 113 family members (FMs) of people with serious alcohol or drug problems

To examine the impact on Italian family members of living with a relative who had an alcohol or drug problem

 +  + 

No discussion of limitations

Ahuja et al. [47]

England

Grounded theory of qualitative interviews

Semi-structured interviews with 24 British Sikh wives of men with identified alcohol problems, plus 10 of their husbands and 7 of their daughters

To explore experiences of wives and daughters of people with alcohol abuse

 +  + 

The lack of control over sampling.

Small sample of substance abuser and children.