ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTIONS FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH SUBSTANCE-INDUCED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Substance use among adolescents in Nigeria has emerged as a significant public health concern, frequently co-occurring with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. Social work interventions are crucial in managing these complex cases, yet empirical evidence regarding their effectiveness, particularly within the Nigerian context, remains limited. This mixed-methods study, employing a convergent parallel design, aimed to examine the current level of social work interventions provided for adolescents with substance-induced mental health issues at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and to evaluate the effect of these interventions on the mental health outcomes of affected adolescents. Quantitative data were collected from 251 adolescents using structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were gathered through in-depth interviews with social workers. Findings revealed that social work interventions are provided to a high extent, with a significant positive correlation (r = 0.652, p < 0.01) observed between social work interventions and improved mental health outcomes. The study concludes that while social work interventions play a vital role in improving mental health outcomes, their optimal effectiveness is constrained by various systemic and socio-cultural factors. Recommendations include prioritizing the recruitment and training of specialized social workers, strengthening community-based awareness, and improving multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance intervention effectiveness and recovery outcomes for adolescents.