Lessons learned from concerned significant others

A qualitative analysis on involvement in services for young adult opioid use disorder

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22070239
AutoresNicole Porter (0000-0001-6149-9501, East Harlem Tutorial Program, autor correspondente), Nicole P Porter, Sean Dunnsue (East Harlem Tutorial Program), Cori Hammond (0000-0002-9914-0016, East Harlem Tutorial Program), Molly Bobek (0009-0007-4961-8652, East Harlem Tutorial Program), Alexandra MacLean (0009-0004-1656-2427, East Harlem Tutorial Program), Mari Watkins (East Harlem Tutorial Program), Craig E Henderson (0000-0002-1071-941X, Sam Houston State University), Aaron Hogue (0000-0001-8365-9545, East Harlem Tutorial Program)
Ano2025
Volume13
Páginas1512529-1512529
Data de publicação2025-07-17
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditoraFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1512529
PMID40746679
OpenAlexW4412855851
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas40

Introduction: Research, clinical wisdom, and government policy recommend family involvement in services for young adult (YA) opioid use disorder (OUD) to improve treatment outcomes. Moreover, research suggests YAs believe that family involvement is essential to OUD treatment and prefer greater involvement of their concerned significant others (CSOs), such as family members, romantic partners, and family-of-choice members in their care. Yet, CSOs are not routinely involved in OUD services for YAs. The main aim of this qualitative study is to learn from CSOs and YAs directly about their thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with family-involved services. Method: We used convenience sampling to recruit 10 YAs (ages 24-36 years) who were in treatment for OUD and their CSOs (5 mothers, 2 grandmothers, 2 partners, 1 aunt) from two urban treatment centers. Using semi-structured interview guides, we conducted qualitative interviews with YAs and their CSOs to explore their experiences, feelings, and attitudes toward family involvement in services. Thematic content analysis started with deductive-dominant group consensus coding followed by matrix analysis to analyze themes in the context of CSO-YA dyads. Results: We identified five main themes: (1) CSO-YA relationships were resilient and motivated treatment and recovery, (2) CSOs believed in the importance of family involvement in services and experienced personal benefits by participating, (3) CSO involvement occurred on a continuum from facilitating treatment entry to systemic family therapy, (4) YAs identified CSOs who were supportive and encouraging of treatment even in the face of CSO barriers and challenges, and (5) YAs held accurate perceptions of their CSOs' MOUD attitudes and beliefs. Discussion: In this qualitative study we learned from YAs and CSOs themselves about the individual and relational benefits of family integration in services and replicated findings from previous research highlighting preferences for greater family involvement in OUD services. Clinical implications and recommendations for challenging barriers to relationship-oriented services and recovery planning for OUD are discussed

Aunt · Feeling · Opioid · Opioid use disorder · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Medicine · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes