Recovery and identity - a 10-year follow-up of persons who have been in treatment for alcohol and / or drug problems

Research on alcohol and/or drug (AOD) problems continuously describe recovery from AOD problems as a long process often including reoccurring relapses and treatment interventions. Follow-up studies on AOD problems are dominantly performed with quantitative methods.

However, research on how persons identify and define themselves in relation to AOD problems over time has been identified as an important but also under-researched field.

The outlined project refers to a 10-year follow-up study of clients treated for AOD problems who participated in previous projects were the clients were interviewed on important factors for positive change, both a short time after treatment and five years later.

Since interview data are available for how the clients viewed their recovery process five and ten years ago, the present project can shed light on identity and recovery processes and how the subjective perception on these processes change over time.Research questionsDo the interviewees’ view of the recovery process change over time and if so, in what sense?What are the differences and similarities between groups (for example men/women, young adults/adults) in terms of factors described as important?In cases of “relapses”, how are these described and handled?How are identity processes related to recovery from AOD problems over the 10-year period?How do the interviewed persons relate former and/or ongoing AOD problems to other problems, for example with mental health, economy and social marginalisation/exclusion?Data and methodIndividual interviews are planned where the told stories of change – vis-à-vis earlier problems as well as identity – are of core interest.

The stories character in terms of stability or change and the presence and importance of so-called turning points are expected to move the stories forward.ImplementationThe intention is to reach and interview as many as possible of the 52 persons agreeing to be contacted.

Costs in the projects covers salaries for the participating researchers during data collection, analysis and writing of research articles.RelevanceThe project will generate knowledge on long-term consequences of social services interventions for persons treated for AOD problems and thus, for a research field in focus for Forte.