Narrating Recovery: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Addiction and Rehabilitation Discourse among Pakistani Youth in Online Forums

Abstract

Young people addiction is a growing concern in Pakistan and the use of online forums, Facebook groups and even messaging apps to discuss drug use and recovery has increased. The goal of this study was to examine the language of Pakistani youths with respect to addiction and rehabilitation in these online spaces, and whether this language is correlated with seeking professional help. 600 posts were retrieved from the online recovery forums and support groups in Pakistan and a structured survey of 360 young forum users (aged 18-29) was conducted in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. The coding scheme was developed based on the three dimensional model of critical discourse analysis by Norman Fairclough that considers text, discursive practice and social practice concurrently. The results indicated that posts were very likely to contain stigmatizing language and moral blame – which were near as common as hopeful and supportive language. More stigma related words were identified in posts on the open forums (Reddit) and more peer support/family related words were identified in posts on the closed WhatsApp/Telegram groups. A large positive correlation was observed between recovery oriented discourse and seeking professional assistance, r = .44, p < .001. The results indicate that language within online communities is not neutral, and can serve as an enabler or hindrance to a young person's recovery process. Finally, the study provides several concrete recommendations for mental health practitioners, forum facilitators and policy makers in Pakistan interested in creating healthier online environments for recovery.

Keywords: Addiction discourse, critical discourse analysis, online forums, rehabilitation, recovery narratives, stigma, Pakistani youth.