Crafting narratives of hardships: Living with adolescents who misuse substances

Abstract

Adolescents’ substance misuse presents significant challenges to the well-being of their families. Families are expected to support adolescents who are misusing substances while continuing to cope with everyday life. Additionally, families continue to endure the negative effects of prejudice and stigmatisation while supporting adolescents who misuse substances. This study aimed to provide insight into the narrative hardships of living with adolescents who misuse substances. The study aims to gain insight into the impact of living with adolescents who misuse substances. Qualitative research was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study using the family systems theory as the point of departure. Data was collected from 10 parents of adolescents who misuse substances and analysed using thematic analysis. The two themes that emerged from the interviews conducted were the impact of having adolescents who misuse substances in the family and strategies for effectively managing life with adolescents who misuse substances. The study suggests that the relationship between adolescent substance misuse and families is bidirectional and thus, adolescent substance misuse may lead to strained relationships and also negatively impact the wellness of families. The findings from this study may be used to develop ongoing strategies to support and encourage personal health, mindfulness and wellness for families.

Keywords: {'name': 'Substance use, Substance misuse, Adolescents, Parents, Support'}

Authors & affiliations

Faith Mathibela
University of South Africa

Jan Masombuka
University of South Africa

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108518

American Psychiatric Association. (2024). What is a substance use disorder? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder

DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v11n5p133

Anney, V. N. (2014). Ensuring the quality of the findings of qualitative research: Looking at trustworthiness criteria. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies (JETERAPS), 5(2), 272–281.

Brink, H., Van der Walt, C., & Van Rensburg, G. (2018). Fundamentals of research methodology for health care professionals (4th ed.). Juta Legal and Academic Publishers.

DOI: 10.1007/s10826-019-01692-2

DOI: 10.1007/s12671-024-02451-1

Casker, R. (2019). Adolescents and substance abuse: Exploring the effects of substance abuse on caregiving and family well-being in Mitchell's Plain [Master's thesis, University of the Western Cape].

DOI: 10.3390/bs5040461

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2019). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

DOI: 10.1007/s12671-021-01635-3

DOI: 10.26529/cepsj.291

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.862366

DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106611

DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2022.2099249

DOI: 10.25306/skad.1296026

DOI: 10.1080/10376178.2017.1361854

DOI: 10.1177/10664807211000720

DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.04.020

DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2018.1540694

Hennink, M., Hutter, I., & Bailey, A. (2020). Qualitative research methods. SAGE.

DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hlac014

DOI: 10.1186/0778-7367-70-11

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108402

DOI: 10.13189/ujp.2018.060103

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14687-4

DOI: 10.3390/su16072803

Kemjika, O. G., & Ojiugo, A. B. (2015). Influence of family dysfunction on drug use of adolescent students of Unity Schools in the South Zone, Nigeria. Journal of Psychological Research, 2(2), 1–7.

DOI: 10.2174/1874944502114010435

DOI: 10.61942/msj.v2i2.168

Masombuka, J. (2021). Parents as an under-utilised resource for the substance dependency service to their youth: Developing a model for social work practitioners [Doctoral thesis, North-West University].

DOI: 10.4102/hsag.v30i0.2787

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93114

DOI: 10.1111/scs.12688

DOI: 10.1177/10784535241252169

Motsoeneng, L. (2018). The experiences of family members of Nyaope misusers and their knowledge of the available social policy interventions: A case of East of Johannesburg.

DOI: 10.1007/s10834-020-09742-4

DOI: 10.1155/2016/4320720

DOI: 10.1080/0376835X.2023.2182760

DOI: 10.1007/s11469-022-00884-0

DOI: 10.1080/07347324.2018.1488549

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Central Asia. (2019). Annual report 2019. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/documents/centralasia//2020/August/Annual-Report-

DOI: 10.1002/wps.21073

DOI: 10.3928/00904481-20140924-07

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2017.04.001

World Health Organisation. (2023). Improving prevention and treatment for drug use disorders. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/activities/improving-prevention-and-treatment-for-drug-use-disorders

DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldab005