Social Support: A Mixed Blessing for Women in Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

Using a personal social network framework, this qualitative study sought to understand how women in substance abuse treatment describe their network members' supportive and unsupportive behaviors related to recovery. Eighty-six women were interviewed from residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs. Positive and negative aspects of women's social networks were assessed via open-ended questions. Analysis was guided by grounded theory techniques using 3 coders. The findings extend classic social support concepts such as emotional, tangible, and informational support. Practice implications are presented in light of the potential roles network members may play in substance use and recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• social networks
• social support
• substance abuse
• substance use disorders
• women

The author would like to thank the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) (Grant R01DA013944) for its support.