BACKGROUND: Substance abuse among young adults is a significant public health concern with detrimental consequences for individuals, families, and society. Family interventions have emerged as promising treatment approaches for addressing substance abuse in this population. This systematic review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on the efficacy of family interventions for young adults with substance abuse.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Scopus) was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2023. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (a) focused on family intervention for young adults (aged 10-25) with substance abuse; (b) employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental design; and (c) reported on substance use outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 41 studies were included in the review. The findings suggest that family interventions are effective in reducing substance use among young adults. Specifically, family interventions were associated with significant reductions in behavioural problems and improvements in family functioning.