Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

‘Finding Your Own Place’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Young Men’s Experience of Early Recovery from Addiction

  • Published:
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Young adults are significantly more likely to experience problematic substance use than mature adults. Identity transformation is known to be a key feature of mature adult recovery, but for the culturally distinct young adult demographic, the links between their identity and their recovery from addiction have not been well investigated. This paper presents a qualitative study on young men’s experience of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous. Processes of change and identity transformation in early recovery are under particular focus. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four young adult men and the resultant transcripts were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results section gives a detailed account of these processes; the findings are then considered in relation to extant literature. The posited suggestion is that through examining the participants’ experience of recovery we can better understand their self-change in light of their journey as young men; proper understanding of which is essential for the creation of intervention programmes that consider the developmental challenges of early adulthood today.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amos, A., Wiltshire, S., Haw, S., & McNeill, A. (2006). Ambivalence and uncertainty: experiences of and attitudes towards addiction and smoking cessation in the mid-to-late teens. Health Education Research, 21, 181–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. J. (2005). The developmental context of substance use in emerging adulthood. Journal of Drug Issues, 35, 235–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biernacki, P. (1986). Pathways from heroin addiction: Recovery without treatment. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B., Kinlock, T., & Nurco, D. (2001). Self-help initiatives to reduce the risk of relapse. In F. Tims, C. Leukefeld, & J. Platt (Eds.), Relapse and recovery in addictions. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckingham, S., Frings, D., & Albery, I. P. (2013). Group membership and social identity in addiction recovery. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(4), 1132–1140.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cain, C. (1991). Personal stories: identity acquisition and self-understanding in alcoholics anonymous. Ethos, 19(2), 210–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chi, F. W., Kaskutas, L. A., Sterling, S., Campbell, C. I., & Weisner, C. W. (2009). Twelve step affiliation and three-year substance use outcomes among adolescents: social support and religious service attendance as potential mediators. Addiction, 104, 927–939.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm, L., & du Bois Reymond, M. (1993). Youth transitions, gender and social change. Sociology, 27, 259–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, T. A., & Maisto, S. A. (2006). Relapse to alcohol and other drug use in treated adolescents: review and reconsideration of relapse as a change point in clinical course. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 149–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, H. H., Harris, K. S., Baker, A., Herbert, R., & Dean, L. R. (2007). Characteristics of a collegiate recovery community: safe haven in an abstinence hostile collegiate environment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 33, 13–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J. A., Wild, T. C., Koski-Jännes, A., Cordingley, J., & Toneatto, T. (2002). A prospective study of quit attempts from alcohol problems in a community sample: modeling the processes of change. Addiction Theory and Research, 10, 159–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Visser, R., & Smith, J. A. (2007). Alcohol consumption and masculine identity among young men. Psychology and Health, 22(5), 595–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. (1993). The alcoholic society: Addiction & recovery of the self. New Jersey: Transactions Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finfgeld, D. L., & Lewis, L. M. (2002). Self-resolution of alcohol problems in young adulthood: a process of securing solid ground. Qualitative Health Research, 12, 581–592.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flores, P. J. (2004). Addiction as an attachment disorder: implications for group therapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 51(1), 630–681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gossop, M. (2006). Treating drug misuse problems: evidence of effectiveness, National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse. Retrieved from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_treat_drug_misuse_evidence_effectiveness_2006_rb5.pdf. Accessed 15 March 2013.

  • Hänninen, V., & Koski-Jännes, A. (1999). Narratives of recovery from addictive behaviours. Addiction, 94(12), 1837–1848.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harnett, R., Thom, B., Herring, R., & Kelly, M. (2000). Alcohol in transition: towards a model of young men’s drinking styles. Journal of Youth Studies, 3(1), 61–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrist, S. (2006). A phenomenological investigation of the experience of ambivalence. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 37(1), 85–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harter, S. (1998). The personal self in social context: Barriers to authenticity. In R. Ashmore & L. Jussim (Eds.), Self and identity: Fundamental issues (pp. 80–105). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedges, T. D., Schmidt, S. L., & Perry, P. D. (2003). Adolescents’ and young adults’ perspectives on a continuum of care in a three year drug treatment program. Journal of Drug Issues, 33(4), 801–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hser, Y. (2007). Predicting long-term stable recovery from heroin addiction: findings from a 33-year follow-up study. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 26(1), 51–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, K., Moos, R., & Finney, J. (1995). Two pathways out of drinking problems without professional treatment. Addictive Behaviors, 20(4), 427–441.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelemen, G. B., Erdos, M., & Madacsy, J. (2007). Voices of sobriety: exploring the process of recovery through patient testimonials. Addiction Research and Theory, 15, 127–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, S. (1993). Identity and recovery. Psychotherapy, 30, 235–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. F., & Myers, M. G. (2007). Adolescents’ participation in alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous: review, implications, and future directions. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 39, 259–269.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. F., Brown, S. A., Abrantes, A., Khaler, C. W., & Myers, M. (2008). Social recovery model: An 8-year investigation of adolescent 12-step involvement following inpatient treatment. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 32(8), 1468–1478.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. F., Stout, R. L., & Slaymaker, V. (2012). Emerging adults’ treatment outcomes in relation to 12-step mutual-help attendance and active involvement. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 129(1–2), 151–157.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klingemann, H. (2000). ‘To everything there is a season’: social time and clock time in addiction treatment. Social Sciences & Medicine, 51(8), 1231–1240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koski-Jännes, A. (2002). Social and personal identity projects in the recovery from addictive behaviours. Addiction Research and Theory, 10, 183–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larkin, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2002). Experience of addiction and recovery: the case for subjective accounts. Addiction Research and Theory, 10(3), 281–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laudet, A. B., & White, W. L. (2008). Recovery capital as prospective predictor of sustained recovery, life satisfaction and stress among former poly-substance users. Substance Use and Misuse, 43(1), 27–54.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D. (1978). The seasons of a man’s life. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt, G. A., & Witkiewitz, K. (2002). Harm reduction approaches to alcohol use: health promotion, prevention, and treatment. Addictive Behaviours, 27(6), 867–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, M. J., & Luckey, B. (2003). Young adults in alcohol-other drug treatment: an understudied population. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 21(1), 17–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, J., & McKeganey, N. (2000). Addicts’ narratives of recovery from drug use: constructing a non-addict identity. Social Science & Medicine, 50, 1501–1510.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melucci, A. (1998). Inner time and social time in a world of uncertainty. Time & Society, 7(1–2), 179–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational interviewing (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, K., & Miles, S. (2004). Young people, dance and the subcultural consumption of drugs. Addiction Research and Theory, 12(6), 507–524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. (2008). How and why twelve-step self-help groups are effective. In M. Galanter & L. Kaskutas (Eds.), Recent developments in alcoholism volume 18: Research on alcoholics anonymous and spirituality in addiction recovery. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neale, J., Allen, D., & Coombes, L. (2005). Qualitative research methods within the addictions. Addiction, 100, 1584–1593.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rafalovich, A. (1999). Keep coming back! Narcotics anonymous narrative and recovering-addict identity. Contemporary Drug Problems, 26, 131–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith, G. (1999). In search of lost time: recall, projection and the phenomenology of addiction. Time and Society, 8(1), 99–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reith, G., & Dobbie, F. (2012). Lost in the game: narratives of addiction and identity in recovery from problem gambling. Addiction Research and Theory, 20(6), 511–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, T., & Moore, D. (2001). On the qualitative in drugs research: part one. Addiction Research and Theory, 9(4), 279–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Room, R., & Sato, H. (2002). Drinking and drug use in youth cultures: building identity and community. Contemporary Drug Problems, 29(1), 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B. (1998). The problem drinker’s lived experience of suffering: an exploration using hermeneutic phenomenology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27, 213–222.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. A. (2004). Reflecting on the development of interpretative phenomenological analysis and its contribution to qualitative research in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 1, 39–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method, research. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sobell, L., Ellingstad, T., & Sobell, M. (2000). Natural recovery from alcohol and drug problems: methodological review of the research with suggestions for future directions. Addiction, 95(5), 749–764.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swora, M. (2004). The rhetoric of transformation in the healing of alcoholism: the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous. Mental Health, Religious & Culture, 7, 187–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn, C., & Long, W. (1999). Surrender to win: how adolescent drug and alcohol users change their lives. Adolescence, 34(133), 9–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Lymarie Rodriguez & Jonathan A. Smith

Authors
  1. Lymarie Rodriguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonathan A. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lymarie Rodriguez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rodriguez, L., Smith, J.A. ‘Finding Your Own Place’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Young Men’s Experience of Early Recovery from Addiction. Int J Ment Health Addiction 12, 477–490 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-014-9479-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-014-9479-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation