Experiences of Family Caregivers Living with Substance User in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa ^†

Background: Substance use is a multidimensional public health challenge that affects individuals, families, and communities, and its impact extends beyond the user. Caregiving for the individual substance user is accompanied by myriads of disruptions that threaten family stability, which undermine quality of life. The care of substance users by family caregivers is associated with stressful experiences related to interpersonal factors, socioeconomic, and psychosocial conditions.

The aim: The purpose of the study is to explore the experiences of family caregivers living with a member who uses substances in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.

Methods: Qualitative research was undertaken to explore the experiences of family caregivers who live with a member who uses substances. A phenomenological research design was employed for this study, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants who meet the inclusion criteria, and eight family caregivers participated in this research based on data saturation.

Results: Tech’s steps of analysis were followed, and overarching themes were generated, including the disrupted family’s normal dynamics, financial dependence on caregivers, psychosomatic strain on caregivers, and a feeling of hopelessness. There was an expressed need by caregivers for intervention strategies that could serve as an aid for coping with challenges emanating from their experiences.

Conclusions: Based on stress-related experiences that caregivers undergo, evidence suggests that there is a need for interventions to capacitate them with healthy coping strategies and support for how to respond to the caring demands of substance users within the family.