The aim for this study was to examine how social workers perceive the social network’s function and involvement in an adolescent’s process toward changing a substance use. The study is based on seven qualitative interviews with social workers in Mini-Maria facilities, working with youths/adolescents in psychosocial substance use treatment. The interviews were analysed with a brief inspiration from the approach of thematic analysis. The ecological systems theory as well as a perspective on the theory of social capital were used for interpretation of the result. The overall conclusion is that adolescents’ networks have a large impact on their substance use treatment, both in terms of the outcome as well as the meaning to the adolescent itself. Parents of youths are frequently involved in the practical treatment, while friends rarely are, but they both form a central part regarding the process of change. The social capital is also of great importance since it is constructed within the different parts of the social network where the youth experiences support. Social capital can therefore be both constructive and destructive depending on the structure of those relationships.

Juvenile delinquency is a widespread phenomenon in Sweden. Social services are responsible for caring for children and adolescents who live in adverse living conditions. Today, there are ongoing discussions among politicians and the media about the social services’ shortcomings in addressing juvenile delinquency. This qualitative study aims to explore how social services investigate children and adolescents who have reported criminal problems to the social services and to examine social workers’ experiences and potential opportunities in their professional practice. The data collection comprises five semistructured interviews that have been analyzed within the theoretical concepts of human service organizations and grassroots bureaucrats, as well as the transtheoretical model of behavior change. The results show that social workers describe various strategies and approaches in their work with juvenile delinquency. Moreover, the study elucidates the susceptibility of social workers' professional endeavors to both organization factors and external ones, encompassing societal confidence in social services and the dynamic evolution of juvenile delinquency. These factors can either aid or hinder social workers in addressing juvenile delinquency. In summary, more resources and motivation are needed in social services for adolescents and families, along with research to improve social workers’ conditions in juvenile delinquency.