Developing Digital Community as Social Support Network for Drug Addict Families: A Conceptual Paper

Families caring for individuals with drug addiction often experience significant strain arising from stigma, social isolation, and limited institutional support. These pressures contribute to sustained psychological distress, particularly as existing informal networks and overstretched professional services remain inadequate in addressing the complex and ongoing challenges faced by caregivers. Although previous studies have acknowledged the emotional burden borne by families, less attention has been given to the potential role of dedicated digital platforms in strengthening tailored social support networks for this vulnerable group. This paper aims to address the potential of digital community to support families affected by addiction. The paper conducted on a library-based conceptual analysis, this paper argues that a well-designed digital community has the capacity to function as a meaningful support environment. The searching term include family addiction support, digital community, online peer support, addiction stigma, caregiver resilience, and digital mental health. Findings conclude virtual refuge, mediated peer connection, informational resilience, collective advocacy and adaptive digital are the potential for contribution to collective empowerment by offering a space where families can build shared understanding and challenge broader societal misconceptions. The development of these community-oriented digital spaces therefore represents a promising avenue for reducing family isolation and enhancing overall well-being among those affected by drug addiction. The risk and challenges also future research also discussed details in this paper.

Digital Support, Addiction Families, Online Communities, Stigma Mitigation, Caregiver Resilience

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