Adolescent Perceptions of Substance Use Problem Resolution and Recovery

ABSTRACT

A better understanding of adolescent recovery is needed and will create opportunities to enhance recovery-oriented systems of care. The current study surveyed adolescents on behavioral and social indicators, substance use problem resolution and recovery status, and elements of recovery. The most commonly endorsed element of problem resolution was “stop completely,” followed by “not hanging out with friends who use a lot,” and “getting counseling for alcohol/drug use.” Approximately 40% of youth in recovery did not select abstinence as a key element of recovery. Additional research on recovery identity among adolescents is needed to clarify this finding.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• addictive behavior
• recovery
• substance-related disorders

Acknowledgments

We thank Qualtrics for providing the platform to reach youth and their parents throughout Illinois and those who took the time to complete our survey. We also want to acknowledge our funder, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The authors received support from the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR; Contract # 43CAZ03292, PI: Smith). The views, however, are those of the authors and do not reflect official government positions.