Assessment of family functioning in adolescents who use substances- a cross-sectional comparative study

This study aimed to assess family functioning in adolescents who used substances and to compare them with families of healthy adolescents. This was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted on a total of 80 adolescent-parent dyads, selected from a clinical population by purposive sampling. Confidential interviews were conducted for both separately and included the semi-structured proforma for sociodemographic details of the family, the Modified MINI Screen to rule out mental illness in parents and Family Assessment Device. Responses were recorded and analysed using SPSS v26.0. The most common substances used by adolescents were tobacco, cannabis and opioids. Groups were matched for adolescent age, family structure and socio-economic status. Group A adolescents (substance users) perceived significantly greater problems in family functioning compared to their parents and group B (healthy) adolescents (p < 0.05). Parents of substance users perceived significantly greater problems in various domains of family functioning as compared to parents of non-users. Problem solving, communication, affective involvement and general functioning were major domains in which parents and adolescents differed, both between groups and within the same group. There were significant differences in family functioning of substance using and non-using adolescents. There is a need for larger systematic studies to understand the specific risk and protective factors in the context of substance use among Indian adolescents.