What works in recovery? Alcohol and other drug professionals lived experiences of addiction, treatment and recovery in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
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Date
2018
DOI
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Massey University
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Abstract
The New Zealand Government’s health surveys consistently identify that alcohol
and other drug (AOD) addiction is an issue for New Zealanders. However, there
is a lack of qualitative research on the lived experiences of people who have
previously or currently experience AOD addiction in New Zealand. This research
provides insight into the factors that contribute to, and create barriers to,
successful AOD addiction recovery. The qualitative method of constructivism was
the approach used to conduct the research. Eight participants took part in semistructured
interviews, sharing their stories in a narrative style and recounting
experiences from the time their addictions began, their entry into AOD addiction
recovery and their entry into the AOD workforce. Interview transcripts were
analysed using thematic analysis, themes were identified that highlighted what
contributed to participant’s successful AOD addiction recovery and what created
barriers to AOD addiction recovery. Nine themes emerged through the data
analysis process these were: stigma; defining your own recovery; reconstruction
of the self; the role of social learning; opportunities for career progression; specific
populations including youth, people with co-existing mental health and AOD
addiction issues, women, and families; strengths and limitations of the health,
social service and AOD workforce; addiction and the law; and barriers to
accessing AOD support services. A consistent finding across these nine themes
was that the barriers to AOD addiction recovery in New Zealand experienced by
the research participants were systemic, and preventable. The recommendations
of this thesis are that the barriers to recovery, and contributors to successful
recovery identified in this research are addressed; in particular the themes of
stigma and systemic barriers to wellbeing.
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Keywords
Alcoholics, Rehabilitation, New Zealand, Interviews, Addicts, Drug addicts