Youth Impacted by a Family Member’s Substance Use: A Qualitative Exploration of Life Course Experiences and Coping

Many reports describe how children and youth are negatively impacted by substance use in their household. Less is known about how they cope. Moreover, there is a scarcity of research that analyses empirical data through a theoretical lens. The aim of the present study was two-fold: to explore the experiences and coping strategies of youth growing up impacted by a family member’s substance use, and to examine how these findings relate to pertinent theory. The participants were 17–21 years of age and had participated in a psychoeducational programme for affected family members. We conducted in-depth interviews (n = 6), applying Systematic Text Condensation in a thematic cross-case analysis. Discussions of the findings were informed by insights from the Salutogenic Model of Health. Two main themes emerged. First, growing up with substance use is a lonesome and demanding experience. Second, children and youth cope using methods that may become problematic—such as supressing emotions and trying to be self-supported—as well as strategies aimed at fostering independence and focusing on constructing a better future. By discussing our findings in the context of salutogenic theory, we gained insights into the multifaceted aspects of coping, which may inform practice and facilitate movement towards health in this population.