Supporting youth in substance addiction recovery: A social work perspective on preventive and intervention strategies in Canada and Hungary

Abstract

Addiction is a concerning public health care issue that intersects public health, psychology, and social welfare. The study aimed to explore the roles, experiences, challenges, support systems, and recommendations of social workers in providing interventive and preventive strategies for substance addiction recovery in Canada and Hungary. This study incorporated a qualitative design, utilizing insights and knowledge from social workers. Key themes were explored and analyzed using a thematic analysis in MAXQDA (version 26.2.1). The study used purposive and snowball sampling, recruiting twelve social workers (Hungary n=4; Canada n=8) who were employed in various institutions. The interview method was semi-structured and conducted in-person in Hungary and through video conference software (Teams, Zoom) for Canadian participants.