Impact of Social support on Adolescents with Substance Abuse: A Case-Based Exploration

Abstract

The case study is about a boy, Mr. A, a 16-year-old with a history of substance use. The study shows how social support or the lack of it has a big influence on his actions and recovery process by carefully examining his social surroundings and therapeutic approaches. Adolescent substance misuse has grown in importance as a public health issue, impacting not only the users but also their families, communities, and larger social structures. Because of the physiological, psychological, and social changes that occur during this developmental stage, adolescents are more likely to use drugs. Experimentation and risk-taking behaviours are common during the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood, and they are frequently impacted by external variables such as peers, family, and community resources. In this regard, social support—which is characterized as instrumental, emotional, or informational help from significant others—is essential in influencing teenage substance use behaviours. For adolescents with substance use disorders, social support has been shown to be essential to both risk and recovery paths. The social dynamics surrounding a substance-using adolescent are thoroughly examined in this case study. By providing insights into clinical procedures and intervention tactics ie. relapse prevention, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) decreases substance usage, improve family communication, increase social support, and build coping mechanisms to deal with stress and peer pressure., this case study seeks to highlight the significance of social support networks as preventative factors against substance use