“A lot better than it used to be”: a qualitative study of adolescents’ dynamic social recovery capital

Abstract

Background

Substance use recovery is a dynamic process for youth, and social networks are tied to the recovery process. The Recovery Capital for Adolescents Model (RCAM) situates the resources accessible through social networks – social recovery capital (SRC) – in a larger framework of developmentally-informed recovery resources. This study aims to investigate the social network experiences among recovering youth enrolled in a recovery high school to understand how social influences help to build, or act as barriers to building, recovery capital.

Methods

To gain insight into these networks, Social Identity Maps and semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten youth ages 17–19 years (80% male; 50% non-Hispanic White). Study visits were conducted virtually, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using the RCAM as an organizing framework.

Results

Results supported that adolescent social networks play a unique and multifaceted role in the recovery journey. Three key nuances emerged: change permeates adolescent networks throughout the treatment and recovery process; shared substance use history and non-stigmatizing attitudes play a key role in connecting with others; and SRC is interconnected with human, financial, and community recovery capital.

Conclusions

With adolescent recovery receiving increased attention from policy makers, practitioners, and researchers, the RCAM may be a useful way to contextualize available resources. Findings suggest SRC as a crucial, yet complex component intertwined with all other forms of recovery capital.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• recovery capital
• social identity map
• social network
• substance use

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by a grant to Emily Hennessy from the NIAAA [K01 AA028536]. This funding source had no role during the decision to submit the manuscript.