The Good, the Bad, and Recovery: Adolescents Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Peer Groups

Abstract

In 2017, approximately 1.5 million American adolescents had a substance use disorder (SUD). Adolescents with SUD risk hindering their neurological development, which can result in problems with memory and self-regulation, and in turn disrupt their education, relationships, and life opportunities. Treating adolescents with SUD is challenging. Thus, effective models that help adolescents engage in long-term recovery are needed. The Alternative Peer Group (APG) is an adolescent recovery support model that incorporates pro-recovery peers and sober social activities into standard continuing care practices. In this qualitative study thematic content analysis methods were used to explore transcripts from in-depth interviews with adolescent APG participants collected in a prior study. The aim of this secondary analysis was to get a clear understanding of adolescents’ perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of APGs for supporting SUD recovery. Findings suggest that pro-recovery peer and adult role models, structured activities and a positive social climate that promotes fun, a sense of belonging, and accountability are continuing care elements that are likely to help adolescents resolve their ambivalence about SUD recovery and increase their motivation to engage in the hard work of recovery. These findings can inform the design of effective recovery support model services that promote long-term recovery for adolescents with SUD.

Coping strategy and substance use disorders: The mediating role of drug hazard knowledge

“…Becker et al (2017) also found that the environment and positive or negative experiences can also influence the brain and affect vulnerability to drug addiction among males and females. Smith et al (2020) also argued that adolescents at SUD risk had hindered neurological development, which can cause problems with memory and self-regulation, and in turn disrupt their education, relationships, and life opportunities. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2020) explains that for teens, using substances when the brain is still developing may cause lasting brain changes and put the users at increased risk of dependence.…”

Adolescent Health Series: Adolescent neurocognitive development in Western and Sub‐Saharan African contexts

“…While intervention research highlights the importance of avoiding or reducing situations in which high-risk behaviours such as substance misuse or criminal behaviour can be mutually reinforced through peer feedback [166][167][168], the positive effects of social context and positive peer influence on behaviour should not be overlooked [112,113,[169][170][171]. Interventions that mitigate the social risk of peer ostracisation and facilitate the creation and support of positive peer groups for adolescents may be particularly effective in promoting prosocial, healthy behaviour [172]. Adolescent's heightened sensitivity to peer influence can also be harnessed as a driver of positive behavioural change.…”

Exploring gender differences in the vulnerability towards drug abuse among adolescents in Malaysia

“…Previous studies have documented many types of risk factors. Among these are peer influence, stress, developmental changes, and negative role models (Roblyer, Betancourth & Grzywacz, 2015;Smith, Vasquez, Emelogu, Hayes, Engebretson, & Nash, 2020;Tam, Kwok, Lo, Lam & Lee, 2018). Besides, discrimination, ethnic identity, access to drugs, and misperceptions about the risk of drugs (Verissimo, Gee, Ford, & Iguchi, 2014;Zapolski, Clifton, Banks, Hershberger, & Aalsma, 2017) have also been identified as risk factors.…”