The Role of Family Therapy in Treating Adolescent Drug Abuse

Abstract

This study explores the role of family therapy in addressing adolescent drug abuse within the Indian socio-cultural context. Grounded in qualitative methodology, it examines how therapeutic interventions influence emotional healing, communication patterns, trust-building, and relapse prevention among adolescents and their families. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with adolescents undergoing addiction recovery and their parents, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Key findings highlight that family therapy fosters emotional expression, shifts blame-oriented dynamics toward support, and improves communication within the household. However, cultural stigma, patriarchal norms, and initial resistance to therapy present notable barriers. The study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive, family-centred interventions in substance abuse treatment and calls for integrating such approaches into mainstream adolescent care programs. It contributes to the limited body of Indian research on systemic addiction recovery and offers practical insights for therapists, policymakers, and community health practitioners.