Substance use, recovery capital, and social networks of adolescents recently initiating inpatient treatment.

Abstract

A variety of personal and environmental resources (recovery capital: RC) support recovery for adolescents. Social identity theory suggests one's alcohol and other drug (AOD) use behavior is strongly influenced by social network behavior. This study examined how the level of pretreatment substance use was associated with RC and social network characteristics among youth entering inpatient treatment. Understanding these relationships may help inform initial treatment engagement and post-treatment transitions. Participants (N = 108; Mage=17.1; 61% male; 70% White) completed standardized measures on admission to inpatient treatment: demographics, past 90-day substance use, recovery capital, and social network composition/behavior. Regression analyses were used to examine relationships between AOD use before treatment and (1) recovery capital and (2) level of identification with network groups. On average, in the 90 days prior to entry into treatment adolescents consumed alcohol on 20.3 days, used cannabis on 46.5 days, and used other substances (e.g., cocaine) on 17.3 days. The mean RC score was 36.8 (range 25-50). Being male and having more treatment days before baseline were associated with higher RC. Pre-treatment substance use was not consistently associated with RC levels. 70% of participants included at least one family or friend group who used AODs. Participants with a recovery group identified more strongly with that group than with substance-using groups (M=7.28 compared to M=6.63 for groups using substances heavily; scale 0-10). Adolescents appear to have flexible social identities and potentially risky post-treatment relationships, highlighting the need to engage them in recovery-supportive networks following treatment.