Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Informal Social Support Networks on Recovery Among Substance Abusers in Abuja

Substance use disorder recovery in Nigeria is predominantly supported through informal social networks rather than formal rehabilitation institutions, yet the composition and effectiveness of these networks as recovery resources has not been empirically characterised in the Nigerian capital context. This study empirically analyzes the effects of informal social support network characteristics on recovery outcomes among persons with substance use disorders in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. A longitudinal design tracked 160 substance users enrolled in community-based rehabilitation programmes over a twelve-month period, measuring social network composition, support quality, and recovery outcomes at baseline, six months, and twelve months. Recovery was operationalised using validated abstinence self-report, the Addiction Severity Index, and social functioning scores. Social network analysis mapped network structure changes alongside recovery trajectories. Results indicate that recovery at twelve months was achieved by 47% of the sample. Network characteristics at baseline significantly predicted outcomes: the presence of at least two abstinent peers in the social network increased twelve-month recovery odds by 3.1 times. Family support quality was a stronger predictor than family network size, with emotionally supportive but non-enabling family environments producing best outcomes. Sponsor-based social support from peer recovery mentors demonstrated the highest effect size among all measured support types. Religious community networks provided significant recovery support in 63% of achieving-recovery cases. Network transformation from substance-use-centred to recovery-centred was the key mediating mechanism observed qualitatively. The study provides the first longitudinal social network analysis of recovery in the Abuja substance use context. Keywords: substance abuse, social support networks, recovery, Abuja, peer support.