TOWARDS A NEW LIFE

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A qualitative study regarding the social rehabilitation among five persons that receive

maintenance treatment with subutex

Författare: Marie-Heléne Croona

Camilla Rapp

Handledare: Per-Åke Nylander

ABSTRACT

This is a qualitative study with the purpose to examine how the social rehabilitation and the maintenance treatment with subutex are carried out. We want to examine this from the client’s perspective and find out which aspects in the treatment that are valuble. The following questions have beend posed:

• Has maintenance treatment with subutex helped the client achieve an altered life situation and how does this manifest?

• Has maintenance treatment with subutex helped the client achieve an altered social identity?

• Which aspects in the treatment, according to the client, have been most valuble for the possibility to live a life without substance abuse and to believe in the future?

To answer these questions, semi-structured interviews with five former opiate users were carried out. These five individuals, all young men were all, or had been, receiving treatment at the institution Brokks Hus.

In analysing the study we used the terms; social worlds, social identity and lifestyle, and social bonds. Both international and national research carried out in the subject has been studied. The conclusion of the study is that the life situation for the clients is altered due to the maintenance treatment. To achieve an altered life situation one needs to address all the examined areas in treatment. The individual needs to be a part of new social worlds, something that can happen if they establish new meaningful relationships outside the drug using community. The individuals in the study found this hard because they did not have access to socially established communities after being a part of the drug using community for a longer period of time. The development of a new social identity is both helped and undermined by the maintenance treatment. The individuals in the study are in the beginning of the process of developing a new social identity but still, to some extent, they see themselves as drug users. The negative attitudes in the surrounding society towards maintenance treatment are much to blame. The individuals themselves identify employment, structure and social support as the most valuable aspects, besides subutex, to achieve a new meaningful life.

Keywords: Maintenance treatment, subutex, social treatment, social rehabilitation