Substance abuse is a global problem that affects individuals in various areas. In Tanzania, substance abuse has significantly increased in recent years, making it a growing issue. There is a distinction between men and women in substance abuse, as they are attributed different expectations by society. Each gender is perceived to have different problems and needs in relation to substance abuse. Research indicates that much of the substance abuse treatment is based on a male perspective, which can result in one gender being treated unfairly. Furthermore, the gender of the substance abuse counselor is a factor that may influence treatment, and there is an inherent dilemma regarding treating everyone equally while still focusing on the specific needs of each individual person. The purpose of this study is to understand how gender can affect the treatment of substance abuse in two treatment centers in Tanzania by examining how substance abuse counselors construct gender. The thesis adopts an ethnographic approach with observation as the data collection method, supplemented by interviews. The empirical data has been analyzed through the theories of gender performativity, gender order, and the gender contract, as well as previous research. The results and conclusions of the thesis indicate that substance abuse counselors construct gender in treatment, revealing both differences and similarities in the way each gender is treated.

Missbruk medför samhällsproblem i flera avseenden och innebär en social utsatthet för individen. Ansvaret för utförande av missbruksbehandling ligger delvis inom socialt arbete. Tolvstegsbehandling av alkohol- och narkotikamissbruk är en av Socialstyrelsens rekommenderade behandlingsformer. Denna Studie utforskar hur tolvstegsbehandlare påverkas av sina tidigare erfarenheter av missbruk i utvecklingen av professionell expertis, identitet och i det behandlande arbetet. Fyra kvalitativa djupintervjuer analyserades med hjälp av en fenomenologisk analysmetod. Studiens resultat visar hur behandlare med egen erfarenhet av tidigare missbruk arbetar för att uppnå och bibehålla en professionell expertis och professionell identitet. Kunskap genom utbildning, praktisk kunskap och personliga erfarenheter blir grundläggande, samtidigt som bearbetning av erfarenheter och självreflektion är särskilt avgörande för ett gott behandlande arbete. Resultaten visar på att den egna erfarenheten har en positiv inverkan på behandling och behandlingsrelationen genom att öka delaktighet, mottaglighet och nyttjandet av behandlarens förebildsroll. Däremot utgör den egna erfarenheten risker som kan inverka på behandling och behandlarens känslotillstånd genom överidentifikation. Tidigare erfarenheter kan även skapa konflikt mellan professionell och privat roll, både utifrån tidigare kännedom om klienten och utifrån fortsatt medverkan i tolvstegsmöten som privatperson. Respondenterna delar en öppen syn på behandlingsmetoder, samtidigt som de delar en icke-flexibel syn vad det gäller medicinering. Resultaten är genomsyrade av vikten att arbeta med sig själv genom handledning, egenvård och fortsatt engagemang i tolvstegsrörelsen. Resultaten diskuteras utifrån tidigare forskning, teorin för psykosocialt arbete och de teoretiska begreppen dubbel relation, förebild, professionell expertis, kunskap, situerat lärande och identitet. / Substance abuse results in several different societal problems and leaves the individual in question socially vulnerable. Responsibility for substance abuse treatment partially lies in the hand of social work. Twelve-step treatment is one recommended form of treatment for substance abuse by The National Board of Health and Welfare. The present study explores how recovered twelve-step counselors are affected by their previous experiences of substance abuse in the development of professional expertise, identity and in their treatment work. Four qualitative in-depth interviews were analysed using a phenomenological analysis method. The results of the present study show how recovered counselors work to achieve and maintain professional expertise and a professional identity. Knowledge through education, practice and personal experience is fundamental, and to continuously process ones previous experiences and engage in self-reflection is crucial for recovered counselors to be able to work within their professional role. Results further show that the previous experiences has a positive impact on treatment and the client-counselor relationship by increasing engagement, receptivity and motivation through role-modeling. However, the previous experiences also infers risks that can have a negative effect on treatment and the counselors emotional state through overidentification. Another risk is the conflict between the counselors professional and private role, due to prior knowledge of clients or through engagement in twelve-step meetings. The present study’s participants share an open attitude towards the use of different treatment methods, while sharing a non-flexible attitude towards medical treatment. Something that has permeated the present study’s results was the importance of continuously working with yourself through supervision, self-care and continued engagement in the twelve-step movement. Results are discussed in relation to previous research, the theory of psycosocial work and the theoretical terms double relationship, role-modeling, professional expertise and knowledge, situated learning and identity.