The investigation of the dependence of young women on psychoactive substances has revealed that it originates from dysfunctional families where parents are inclined to alcoholism, depression and other psychiatric diseases. The aim of our investigation is to determine the frequency of these disorders and diseases in parents, as well as in siblings.

The data used in the analysis derives from medical documentation. Twelve families from the rehabilitation group that were treated from January 2003 until June 2006 were investigated.

Seven patients live in an entire primary family. The mothers of patients are 45 - 58 years of age. The mothers of 2 patients were treated from depression with psychotic symptoms, and the mother of 1 patient was treated against depression without psychotic symptoms. Fathers are between 45 and 65 years of age. From 9 alcohol addicted fathers (75%), 2 (16,6%) are still drinking, 3 (25%) are in amateur abstinence, 2 (16,6%) have died from cirrhosis of the liver, 1 (8,3%) disappeared in Sarajevo, and only one as been hospitalized and is abstinating. Only a brother of one female patient is alcohol dependent. One female patient as a brother who was treated for stuttering in childhood, while another brother is being treated for agoraphobia. A younger sister of one female patient has an asocial behavior disorder.

Alcoholism in primary families represents a risk factor for the development of polytoximania and various other disorders and diseases.