Practical support aids addiction recovery: the positive identity model of change

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Håvar Brendryen¹  Dag K Wennesland¹  Farnad J Darnell¹  Ayna B Johansen² 

[1] Norwegian Centre for addiction Research, Ullevål University Hospital, Postboks 1039, 0315, BlindernOslo, Norway;Norwegian Centre for addiction Research, Ullevål University Hospital, Postboks 1039, 0315, BlindernOslo, Norway;Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature, University of Oslo, PO box 1020, N-0316, BlindernOslo, Norway;

关键词: Principles of recovery;    Grounded theory;    Positive identity;    Social support;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-244X-13-201

 received in 2013-02-20, accepted in 2013-07-22,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThere is a need for studies that can highlight principles of addiction recovery. Because social relationships are involved in all change processes, understanding how social motivations affect the recovery process is vital to guide support programs.MethodsThe objective was to develop a model of recovery by examining addicted individuals’ social motivations through longitudinal assessment of non-professional support dyads. A qualitative, longitudinal study design was used, combining focus groups and in-depth interviews with addicted individuals and their sponsors. Data were analyzed using the principles of grounded theory: open coding and memos for conceptual labelling, axial coding for category building, and selective coding for theory building. The setting was an addiction recovery social support program in Oslo, Norway. The informants included nine adults affected by addiction, six sponsors, and the program coordinator. The participants were addicted to either alcohol (2), benzodiazepines (1), pain killers (1) or polydrug-use (5). The sponsors were unpaid, and had no history of addiction problems.ResultsSupport perceived to be ineffective emerged in dyads with no operationalized goal, and high emotional availability with low degree of practical support. Support perceived to be effective was signified by the sponsor attending to power imbalance and the addict coming into position to help others and feel useful.ConclusionsThe findings appear best understood as a positive identity-model of recovery, indicated by the pursuit of skill building relevant to a non-drug using identity, and enabled by the on-going availability of instrumental support. This produced situations where role reversals were made possible, leading to increased self-esteem. Social support programs should be based on a positive identity-model of recovery that enable the building of a life-sustainable identity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Johansen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013