Conner-3300_L8-RP

Running Head: HYDRAULIC FRACTURING 0
Hydraulic Fracturing
Breanna Conner
INTS 3300-D02
Dr. Gail Bentley
Texas Tech University

Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing is a process that is needed in the oil industry for the continuation of oil
production from wells that have already been drilled. This paper will be addressing the issues
that hydraulic fracturing brings to the families and their relationships as well as their problems
with substance use and abuse. I chose to use the disciplines of psychology and addictive
disorders and recovery studies to help shed light on the growing problem. The literature that was
reviewed for this study was both qualitative and quantitative, and after reviewing it, I was able to
conclude that there is a growing trend in substance abuse and use in the oil industry as a whole,
not just the hydraulic fracturing aspect of the industry. Not only was substance use and abuse a
problem, strained and subsequently toxic family relationships were also developing. To deal with
the rise in growing communities, and problems in those communities caused by the subsequent
rise in oil production, community services and agencies are also feeling the negative
consequences of such rises. Hydraulic fracturing effects not only the economy, but many other
aspects of communities all over the world.

This paper is an interdisciplinary research project that utilizes Repko’s 10 STEP process
in order to share the findings and conclusions that I have found and made while researching the
topic of hydraulic fracturing and how it impacts families and individuals in a community. I drew
insights from the disciplines of Psychology and Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies by
analyzing peer reviewed articles to further my search for a link between hydraulic fracturing and
the various problems directed toward the family that occur in oil production areas. The articles I
reviewed were analysis of both qualitative and quantitative studies that were conducted over the
period of the past ten years. The research that I reviewed has helped shape my focus question
into the following: how does fracking and the production of oil effect the relationships within
families of a community and to what extent does substance use and abuse play in terms of the
dynamics of those relationships?
STEP 1: State the Focus Question
The issue of fracking is most definitely a complex problem that justifies interdisciplinary
study due to the fact that there are so many different areas that have vested interests in the topic.
Economics, health and wellness, substance abuse, psychology, and may other interest groups
have all taken a stand on the topic and can argue many different angles. This issue is not black
and white; there are many gray areas, and with those gray areas come high emotions, and strong
differing ideas. For Psychology and Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies (ADRS), there
are so many questions that can be looked at as possible angles of study. Psychology can help to
shed light on the motives, human needs, and desires behind actions of workers and their family
members when making everyday life decisions. Addictive disorders and Recovery Studies can be

helpful in trying to find cost effective ways to stop the rampant substance use and abuse that
seems to come with the territory that is the oilfield business.
All of the following are possible avenues of study in Psychology: What are the family
dynamics like in various types of families who have family members working in the oil industry?
What is the spending/saving of money mentality in households that have high school diplomas
and higher education like compared to those who do not hold high school diplomas or a GED?
For ADRS any number of the following is possible: Do the residual effects of fracking
and the oilfield industry put a high strain on workers and/or their families that drives them to
start abusing substances as a way to cope? What monetary costs are communities and families
expected to pay to fix public property that has been damaged due to drug/alcohol related
incidents?
Even with all the options, I have chosen the following as my focus question: how does
fracking and the production of oil effect the relationships within families of a community and to
what extent does substance use and abuse play in terms of the dynamics of those relationships?
STEP 2: Justify Using an Interdisciplinary Approach
As I stated earlier, this issue is not black and white. It is hues of black mixed with hues of
white with added swirls of gray in there as well. With each different hue is a different
perspective that can be taken on the topic. With each different hue is a different discipline that
can be used to help address the issue. Not only are the different hues mixed in different
perspectives and disciplines, they also represent the many different areas that have vested
interests in the topic. With each different hue is a different picture that can be painted to help
everyone else see and understand this complex problem that is hydraulic fracturing and its effects

on not only the people around us, but the economy, their health, and also their daily way of
living. There are many gray areas involved in a topic this broad, and with those gray areas come
high emotions and strong, differing ideas. This last reason alone is cause for the use of
interdisciplinary research which can help bridge the gaps between differing concepts and ideas
by creating common ground between the two.
STEP 3: Identify Relevant Disciplines
Not only are Psychology and ADRS great disciplines to use to address the issue, I feel
that the pre-medicine/medical field could have tremendous amounts of information and on
various topics when it comes to the notion of fracking. Anywhere from preemptive measures
workers and civilians could take to protect themselves from getting hurt to medical care after
there has already been an accident. Now when it comes to exercise and sports sciences I could
see a biomechanical/ physical therapy perspective being the utmost help. To keep workers
healthy and injury free biomechanics could be helpful in finding safe and efficient ways for the
workers to carry out daily tasks so as to not put tremendous loads of pressure on certain injury
prone parts of the body.
However, the two angles and disciplines I chose help to reveal the potential harm, not
only physical, but emotional, that can result from the drug use that is present in our oilfield
industry as a whole as well as what potentially caused the use and abuse to begin with. Is there a
sign or factor that can be used to help employers keep an eye on any potential addicts? Even
with drug screenings in place with the oilfield companies, the use and abuse of drugs is quite
common. With the grueling work schedules, many feel that they have no other choice and turn to
harmful substances to help stay awake and cope with the stress that is the job. In terms of the

emotional damage, drug use and abuse go hand in hand with many other co-occurring problems
such as family conflict; addiction is a sickness felt by the whole family, not just the addict.
(D'Suaza, 2015) Since the idea is that addiction and use is felt throughout the entire family, how
do family members cope and deal with those issues? What are the dynamics of those
relationships inside the family and how do they differ from “normal” family relationships that
can be observed in a family that does not deal with addiction and use? For these questions, it is
obvious that the use of social work and psychology theories can be used to help one better
understand. I intend to use psychology as it is the base root for the motives and underlying issues
that many other branches, such as social work, stem off of.
STEP 4: Conduct a Literature Search
To better understand the problem I will be using the concentrations of psychology and
addictive disorders and recovery studies. Psychology can help to shed light on the motives,
human needs, and desires behind actions of workers and their family members when making
everyday life decisions. Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies can be helpful in trying to
find cost effective ways to stop the apparent substance use and abuse that seems to come with the
territory that is the oilfield business.
The following articles helped support the psychology side of my interdisciplinary
problem. One theory used in one of the articles was based on children’s needs and requirements
from their parents in terms of the relationship between them. It was a quantitative research
analysis based on fifty cases from a clinical practice that focused on the parental capacity and
care associated with substance use, abuse and addiction. There were several key concepts, some
of which included the need to belong, the need for continuity and stability, and the need for

attachment and bond. (Kimberley, 2010) Another key concept that seems to be on the rise is that
of the need for more community services. Due to the massive population growth in the oil boom
areas the need for community services is also on the rise. (Weber, Geigle, & Barkdull, 2014)
To better understand the addictive argument, the following were used to help paint the
picture I was looking to make. One of the main articles that helped push my focus question in the
right direction was an article that used a cross-sectional survey to provide information on the
correlation between work schedules, poor sleep quality and heavy drinking among nine hundred
and nine factory workers. (Morikawa, et al.) Another article that helped support my question was
a quantitative analysis of oil rig and oilfield workers which showed that they are extremely prone
to mental and physical diseases. (Oppong, 2014)
STEP 5: Develop Adequacy in Each Relevant Discipline
There are three main theories associated and accepted within the addiction and recovery
studies community; they are the Moral Model, Disease Model, and the Character Model. People
who believe in the moral model believe that the addict has made nothing but dismal lifestyle
choices and that their moral are lacking. They believe that the addict can recover by simply
choosing to make better choices. The character model differs from the moral model in that
people believe the addict’s personality is the main issue, and that fact alone is a characteristic of
all addicts. With the last model, the disease model, people who believe in this theory believe that
addiction is a progressive and chronic and the user has no control over his or her use since the
chronic issues have taken their toll on their brain and body like a typical disease would. I
consider the disease model the leader of the pack since it is the most accepted and researched
model.

There is no preference for research types in ADRS. Both qualitative and quantitative
research tools/methods are used. While some researchers prefer the use of surveys and statistics,
others might like to use interview and observation tactics. I think both are used equally in this
field due to the diversity of the research participants. I believe ADRS is a branch off the trunk of
psychology, and when you are dealing with people’s minds and motives, putting a quantifiable
number is sometimes impossible due to certain circumstances which would be where qualitative
methods jump in and take over and vice versa. They need each other to make a strong point; if
they were to stand alone they would not be able to defend the different theories.
Step 6: Analyze the Problem and Evaluate Each Theory
Psychology
Kimberley, D. (2010). Assessing the consequences for children and families when a parent
has a problem with substance use and abuse: considerations for social workers and other
helping professionals. Forum On Public Policy Online, (1). Retrieved from
http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/spring2010.vol2010/substanceabuse2010.htm
This study explored the different dynamics of relationships in families and the different
psychological needs that children and parents go through and need for proper development.
When those needs are not met by the parent, the child lacks in those areas and multiple
consequences can happen. It is the social workers duty to recognize the different situations the
child is being out in by a parent or guardian that partakes in illicit behavior. It is also their duty to
inform the court and proper authorities when it is in the child’s best interest to be removed or not
placed back into that environment. As alcohol and substance use and abuse are on the rise, so are
the number of cases of children being taken from their homes by social agencies. The impact
these decisions have on the children are effecting the child-parent relationship in those families.

It also examines the many different situations that can accompany drug abuse and use in a home
environment and also warns that further research is needed to better clarify the repercussions that
will face the parent when they default to properly raise their child.
Weber, B.A., Geigle, J., & Barkdull, C. (2014). Rural north dakota’s oil boom and its impact on
social services. Social Work, 59(1), 62-72. Retrieved from
http://sw.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/1/62.short
This study was conducted by various focus group sessions and aimed to address the
negative and positive impacts the recent oil boom was having to their community. Social
workers and community services need to be able to look at the previous data and learn from the
previous oil booms so that they may better serve their communities in the ways they desperately
need, for instance, the need for child welfare is on the rise due to bad living conditions of the
family because they were either forced out of the previous living arrangements due to an increase
in living cost or the family is new and has no stable home or housing options due to the decrease
of availability caused by the influx of population for the oil boom. The need for an increase in
local and statewide community service support is greatly needed according to this study and it
urges workers in those departments to push for better rules and regulations when it comes to
certain aspects of community services.
Brown, S., & Lewis, V. (1999). The alcoholic family in recovery: A developmental model. New
York, New York: The Guilford Press.
This book is about the process and stages of recovery not only for the alcoholic, but for
the whole family as well since it is disease that causes repercussions on every individual in the

family and the family as a whole. It addresses the proper family systems and how to work at
achieving the goals for a healthy and normal family.
D’Suaza, C. Family therapy. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from BlackBoard Web site:
https://ttu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content
_id=_1163288_1&course_id=_19954_1&framesetWrapped=true
There are many theories and models when it comes to family therapy. As a treatment
provider, it is your responsibility to facilitate the theory or model that works best for each
specific family under your care in therapy. While there are multiple models, each one derives
itself off of a main concept known as the family system. The family system is made up of six
parts. Each part must be achieved and maintained in order for the family to function normally
and properly.
There are many different types of relationships in “normal” families, child-caregiver,
spouse-spouse, sibling-sibling. When looking at a family that has been plagues by substance use
and abuse, the number and type of relationships change. You now are faced with addict-spouse,
child caregiver-addict, addict-addict; the combinations are endless. Due to the irregular types
relationships seen in addicted families, community services also has to change to fit their needs;
often times there needs to be an increase in services in areas that are faced with vast amounts of
addiction problems.
Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies
Morikawa, Y., Sakurai, M., Nakamura, K., Nagasawa, S., Ishizaki, M., Kido, T., & ... Nakagawa,
H. (n.d). Correlation between shift-work-related sleep problems and heavy drinking in
japanese male factory workers. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 48(2), 202-206. doi:
10.1093/alcalc/ags128

Because shift-work is so taxing ion the body, workers use alcohol as a means to aid in
their sleeping habits. The oil-field is full of jobs that require shift-work and this study helps
prove the point that there is a potential for workers in the oil field to use and abuse alcohol to
cope with the hardships of shift-work. If an employer sees such risk factors, there are appropriate
steps and interventions they might take in order to bypass the heavy drinking risk. This study
was conducted in Japan, where it socially acceptable to have a drink to help one in going to bed,
so further research is urged, especially in societies where it is not socially normal or acceptable
to have a drink prior to going to bed.
Oppong, S. (2014). Common health, safety and environmental concerns in upstream oil and
gas sector: implications for HSE management in ghana. Academicus International
Scientific Journal,(9),93-106. Retrievedfrom:http://www.ceeol.com
It sheds light that oil rig and oilfield workers are extremely prone to mental diseases,
some being alcohol and substance use and abuse. There are many different physical harms that
can happen when one works in the oil industry such as dangerous falls from different work
related crisis and there are many occupational disease that one could catch from working in a
dangerous or “toxic” environment. Along with physical harm that one can sustain, one can also
encounter mental health problems such as anxiety, burnout, stress, and depression. The lack of
safety for oilfield workers is being heavily urged to be further researched so that oil rich areas
are not burdened with the problem of such mental and physical problems.
Parkins, J. R., & Angell, A. C. (2011). Linking social structure, fragmentation, and substance
abuse in a resource-based community. Community, Work & Family, 14(1), 39-55.
doi:10.1080/13668803.2010.506030

The oil boom has brought numerous things to small communities such as population
growth, job development, and economic development. However, with those increases come
consequences of substance and alcohol abuse which are caused by a breakdown of relationships
in the family and community. People effected by the boom often reported that they felt there was
a deep lack of community connectedness partly due to the large turnover rate of the population of
their community which is affected by mass quantities of workers and families constantly moving
in and out of the area depending on job security or job turnover rate, and also because of the
transience that was present. The study also shows that when a small rural town erupts with a
major boom, there are major problems that arise as well. In a small rural town in Canada, the
effects of the boom were so bad that community members got together and formed committees
and made marketing campaigns to try and stop the rise of alcohol use and substance abuse. It
helped prove that group norms within the family and workplace are also able to predict abuse.
Wilhelm, K., Kovess, V., Rios-Seidel, C., & Finch, A. (2004). Work and mental health. Social
Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(11), 866-873. doi: 10.1007/s00127-004-
0869-7
The relationship between workplace factors such as stress, burnout, and workplace
norms, impact the mental health of the worker and can cause problems such as substance use and
abuse. However, there are four major psychological problems found to exist and they are
depression, suicide, psychological distress, and substance and alcohol abuse. The study also
showed an inverse correlation between having financial assets and substance abuse, which means
that the less financial assets one has, the more likely a person is to have the desire to use or abuse
alcohol or drugs in order to “numb the pain”. It also addresses different factors to look for in
workers that are likely to be signals that they are using and abusing substances or have one of the

other mental problems. Even though there are a number of problems, the study suggests that
these problems are able to be changes and that effective interventions are out there.
Shift-work, strenuous work, and jobs with many health and safety risks are typically the
only jobs your can find in the oilfield. With that being said, these studies have linked all three of
the above types of work to being risk factors for producing workers who are likely to have
substance use and abuse problems. The workers are leaning toward substances to help them cope
with the many different and difficult aspects of their jobs, and in doing so they are slowly
transitioning from oilfield workers to addicted oilfield workers.
Step 7: Identifying Conflict between Insights and Their Sources
I do not feel that there are any vocabulary issues within my sources, all of them support
each other and add to the main ideas that are prevalent throughout all of them. The need for
social services in communities and the advancement of child welfare are two main concepts
apparent in all sources used to help support the psychology aspect.
One of the conflicts that arose during my research into the addiction side was that there
was no study that directly linked oilfield shift-work to heavy drinking; instead the study linked
heavy drinking tendencies in male factory workers to shift-work.
Step 8: Create Common Ground
To help create common ground in linking oilfield shift-work to heavy drinking
tendencies, a study needs to be conducted that analyzes the direct correlations, if any, one has
with the other. I believe that the data will reflect a positive relationship in that shift-work leads to
high rates of heavy drinking like the previous study of factory workers and shift-work had. Shift
–work is shift-work but I believe there are other factors that can play key roles in determining

risk factors for heavy drinking such as weather, production rate, difficulty of the task to be
performed, and if there are any breaks provided during working hours.
Step 9: Constructing a more Comprehensive Understanding
As I have stated before, psychology and addictive disorders and recovery studies help to
shed light on this problem in ways that no other discipline can. Psychology helps me to look for
the meanings behind their, the workers or family members’, behaviors; it helps to get to the root
of the problem. Addictive studies builds on top of psychology as it spotlights a certain type of
person, the addicted person, and how their thinking and behaviors are completely different than
those of a normal person, but their problems are still those that can be looked at with the aid of
psychology.
My research has given me new insights to hydraulic fracturing, and many other problems
that rapidly growing communities face. It has opened my eyes to the fact that services offered in
communities in oil booms, large economic growth areas, and dense populated areas need to also
grow rapidly so that they might be able to better serve the many members of their growing
communities. They, the community service centers and agencies, cannot sit around and wait for
the growth to stop or slow down before they can begin to adjust, they need to grow as the
population grows so that they are never faced with having to play catch-up.
STEP 10: Communicating the Results
During my research it has been a little more difficult than I anticipated it to be in being
able to find research that corroborates my stand on the issue of fracking and how it affects the
community and the families within the community in regards to the work and alcohol use and
abuse. A lot of the research that is available, is geared toward the question of why we need

fracking and the advantages or disadvantages of it. However, the research has been clear in
proving that substance/alcohol use and abuse can have harmful and horrific effects on family
relationships. There is also research there that supports my claim of shift work being a huge
factor in whether or not a person abuses and uses alcohol to cope, and as most people know the
oilfield is nothing but shift work. The ribbon, or research, which is needed to tie the two together
is nowhere to be found. Even though the oil industry has been around for numerous decades, the
idea that oil production and substance abuse and use go hand in hand is actually a new one. The
problem of drug use and new abuse is very much a prevalent one, but it seems like it has been
pushed to the back burner due to the increased production of oil. Even though companies have
started to try and crack down on the problem, it almost seems like it is a little too late. When
production starts to decline, and workers are more of an abundance I would like to know if the
problem will finally get the attention it deserves because they, the companies, actually have the
time to truly do something about it and try and find a long-lasting, workable solution or if the
problem will become someone else’s problem to try and fix.
From a psychological standpoint, the research is not abundant, but it is there. It just
requires a good amount of digging to find exactly what is needed. Although, I have noticed a
trend that more and more research in social work is being conducted as we are having more and
more oil boom areas pop up. The relationships that take a toll seem to be those of the family
members of the individual who is addicted, the whole family comes under fire when new roles
are added or taken away. In regards to children and family members of alcoholics, they seem to
be the ones that are hit the hardest by the effects of the relationships formed or broken with the
alcoholic in the family. “Alcoholism affects the entire family, as individuals and as a whole.”
(Brown & Lewis, 1999)

Future research definitely needs to be explored in the area of substance abuse and the
oilfield as a whole. As I said earlier, the drug “scene” is becoming more common with oilfield
workers who work with the production side of things. New studies need to be conducted that
better link the two. It would also be interesting to see if the drug habits that were caused by the
stresses of the oilfield were still an issue in those who no longer worked in the oil business;
where they able to quit and see the troubles the abuse was causing their lives or are they still
faced with the monster of their habit? Even though I was able to find a study that linked shift-
work to alcoholism, that particular study was conducted with factory workers. One of the major
connections that needs to be back up with further research is the link between the physical
demand of the job and its hours to the possibility that they are risk factors for developing a
substance use problem. Does outdoor shift-work, particularly oil production, effect heavy
drinking or the potential for developing alcoholism?

References
Brown, S., & Lewis, V. (1999). The alcoholic family in recovery: A developmental model. New
York, New York: The Guilford Press.
D’Suaza, C. Family therapy. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from BlackBoard Web site:
https://ttu.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content
_id=_1163288_1&course_id=_19954_1&framesetWrapped=true
Kimberley, D. (2010). Assessing the consequences for children and families when a parent
has a problem with substance use and abuse: considerations for social workers and other
helping professionals. Forum On Public Policy Online, (1). Retrieved from
http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/spring2010.vol2010/substanceabuse2010.htm
Morikawa, Y., Sakurai, M., Nakamura, K., Nagasawa, S., Ishizaki, M., Kido, T., & ... Nakagawa,
H. (n.d). Correlation between shift-work-related sleep problems and heavy drinking in
japanese male factory workers. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 48(2), 202-206. doi:
10.1093/alcalc/ags128
Oppong, S. (2014). Common health, safety and environmental concerns in upstream oil and
gas sector: implications for HSE management in ghana. Academicus International
Scientific Journal,(9),93-106. Retrievedfrom:http://www.ceeol.com
Parkins, J. R., & Angell, A. C. (2011). Linking social structure, fragmentation, and substance
abuse in a resource-based community. Community, Work & Family, 14(1), 39-55.
doi:10.1080/13668803.2010.506030

Weber, B.A., Geigle, J., & Barkdull, C. (2014). Rural north dakota’s oil boom and its impact
on social services. Social Work, 59(1), 62-72. Retrieved from
http://sw.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/1/62.short
Wilhelm, K., Kovess, V., Rios-Seidel, C., & Finch, A. (2004). Work and mental health. Social
Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(11), 866-873. doi: 10.1007/s00127-004-
0869-7

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