Something you could do is : Try to get a chance to talk to your nephew. When no one else is listening, ask him if he's ever been punished. He may sau something like" Yes, just last week so and so punished me in such and such a way. Then tell him he could write that person a letter telling him in no uncertain terms exactly what you think about what he did, and then rip up the letter. Then, in this exercise your nephew may begin to think of other worse treatment he has gotten and for each one he should write letters. It's a lot of work but that's how a person can begin clearing out the "baggage" of their past which drive people to many things including addiction. Also rewards can be included as a problem. But, if there are ptsd experiences in a person's past, there should be someone around in case it gets too hard for the person affected to manage. And he shouldn't do it for too long in one day.- Maybe a half hour. A counselor would also be nice.