Abstract: (5 Views)
Perceived social support is recognized as one of the key psychological variables in the processes of treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention in addiction. It refers to an individual's subjective evaluation of the amount and quality of support received from various sources, including family, friends, and peer groups. Objective: The present study aimed to explore and compare the nature, function, and lived experience of perceived social support among individuals recovered from addiction in two groups: Congress 60 and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Method: This qualitative study was conducted in the autumn of 2024 using a thematic analysis approach. The research setting included Narcotics Anonymous (NA) centers and Congress 60 branches in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling of participants who had maintained stable recovery for at least three years. Findings: The findings indicated that in Congress 60, perceived social support is primarily experienced in the form of educational, structured, and intra-group support. Through the DST treatment method, with its emphasis on education, self-awareness, and enhanced personal responsibility, this form of support plays a significant role in stabilizing and sustaining recovery. In this group, social support functions not merely as emotional support, but as a meaning-oriented and empowering resource. In the NA group, perceived social support is manifested mainly through emotional, empathetic, and participatory forms of intra-group support. Interaction with peers, active participation in meetings, and a sense of group belonging were found to play an effective role in relapse prevention and the maintenance of recovery. The extracted themes consisted of 96 basic themes, 20 organizing themes, and 8 overarching themes.Conclusion: The findings indicated that perceived social support plays a significant role in maintaining recovery in both groups; however, its nature differs between them. Therefore, incorporating the educational and cognitive support provided by Congress 60 alongside the emotional and peer-based support offered by Narcotics Anonymous (NA) may strengthen treatment programs, reduce the likelihood of relapse, and promote sustained recovery.
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