Föreliggande studie har genom kvalitativ forskning med utgång i systemteorin syftat till att kartlägga den enskilda missbrukarens väg till missbruksbehandling. Tre semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts och sedermera analyserats. Missbrukare utgör en särskild kategori i socialtjänstlagen. Därtill står det att finna i lagrum 3 kap 1 § (SFS 2001:453) att socialtjänsten genom uppsökande verksamhet ska göra sig väl förtrogen med levnadsförhållandena i kommunen. Därtill även informera om socialtjänsten i kommunen och genom uppsökande verksamhet och på annat sätt främja förutsättningarna för goda levnadsförhållanden. Resultat har påvisat att det i första hand är missbrukarens anhöriga som stöttar dem till kontaktsökande vad gällande behandling. Studien har därtill även påvisat att missbrukaren i första hand inte vänt sig till socialtjänsten utan sökt sig till andra instanser. Respondenterna i studien har samtliga haft enskilda agendor vad gällande uppnådd drogfrihet. Vad som dock förefallit signifikant bland deltagarna har varit en strävan om bättre relationer med sin familj. Ytterligare en av studiens slutsatser är att socialtjänsten bör utöka sin informationsspridning till kommuninvånare om att missbruksbehandling finns att tillgå och hur hjälpen är utformad. / The present study has the qualitative research with the output of systems theory aimed to identify the individual abuser path to addiction treatment. Three semi-structured interviews have been conducted and subsequently analyzed. Addicts constitute a special category in the Social Services Act. In addition, it is to be found in the section of the law Chapter 3, 1 § (SFS 2001: 453) that the social outreach should make themselves familiar with the living conditions in the municipality. In addition, also provide information on social services in the municipality and through outreach activities and other means to promote conditions for good living conditions. Results have demonstrated that it is primarily the abuser's family members who support them to contact applicants as current treatment. The study has also revealed that although the addict in the first place not turned to social services, but turned to other instances. Respondents in the study all had individual agendas as applicable achieved abstinence. What, however, seemed significant among the participants has been a quest for better relationships with their family. Another of the study's conclusions is that social services should expand its dissemination of information to local residents about drug treatment are available and how the aid is designed.

Studien syftar till att utifrån ett brukarperspektiv belysa hur stort inflytande brukare inom den kommunala missbruksvården har på sin egen vård. Brukare avses i detta fall personer som har och har haft en kontakt med missbruks- och beroendevården över tid. För att besvara studiens syfte har fem brukare intervjuats. Studiens data har sedan analyserats med hjälp av maktteori. Studien visar att upplevelsen av inflytande påverkar vården och att den kan variera hos brukarna beroende på vilka egenskaper de själva besitter, de professionella besitter och hur relationen dem emellan utvecklas. Samtliga brukare i studien upplevde att de befann sig i ett underläge i maktförhållandet gentemot de professionella. För att känslan av inflytande skulle vara stark hos brukarna krävdes det att de professionella hade en förmåga att förhålla sig till och i viss mån reducera obalansen i maktförhållandet. Att brukarna kände att de hade makten att påverka vården samt att de blev lyssnade på var centralt för att en känsla av inflytande skulle infinna sig. Om detta inte var närvarande i relationen med de professionella infann sig istället en känsla av maktlöshet och begränsat inflytande. / This study aims to explore what client’s connected to their local council’s alcohol and substance abuse treatment thinks matter for their own care. The aim of exploration concretized to involve clients influence over their own care.  Clients in this case are referred to people who have and have had a contact with the alcohol and substance abuse treatment over time. To respond to the study's purpose five clients has been interviewed. The data were then analyzed by using a theory of power. The study shows that the client´s experience of influence matters and may vary depending on the characteristics the clients themselves possess, the professional possess and how the relationship between them evolves. All clients in the study felt that they were in a lower position of power compared to the professionals. To create a strong feeling of influence within the clients the professional had to have an ability to relate to and, to a certain extent reduce the imbalances in power relations. To create a feeling of influence within the clients they had to feel that they had the power to affect the care and that they were listened to. If this was not present in the relationship with the professionals, a sense of powerlessness and limited influence appeared instead.

Rituals can be described as ceremonial acts, that have typical rules and own significance. They have their place not only for substance abusers within therapeutic communities, but in a daily life also. Usually, rituals are bonded to traditions of a specific community and they provide a possibility for an individual to identify with this community. They provide also strong emotional experience and they concern spiritual parts of the individual as well. The main objective of this study is to provide a possible view of clients of each stages of final ritual in specific therapeutic community and to find out how it is perceived and valued in a case of a given attitude on their process of own treatment. The elaborated work is focused on emotions which are experienced by clients, whether and in a case how they sense the person, to whom is the ritual addressed, and how they sense therapists and objects which are used during the ritual. In the elaborated work is used a qualitative approach. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews. The sample was chosen by a method of intended choice via an institution, it is consisted of therapeutic community White Light I clients, which were present in the community at that time and simultaneously participated on the leaving ritual in this community....

In the thesis I focused on a process of residential treatment in a therapeutic community. Such a process is mostly divided into four stages in all therapeutic communities in the CR where different needs and tasks are required from clients. The procedure in the treatment process is evaluated by the group as well as by staff. The fulfillment of criteria in each phase is a condition needed for shifting the clients in the treatment process towards successful completion of treatment. These phases are clearly defined by therapists and clients are acquainted with them through the operating manual. The aim of the thesis is to describe the process of treatment and common elements with regard to how it is perceived and experienced by the clients during the treatment in the therapeutic community WHITE LIGHT I. Using methods of prospective study helps to describe the process of treatment and then divide it according to the common elements into ,,phases" as they are perceived by the clients themselves, and compare them with formally stated phases of treatment in the TC. The thesis is based on a qualitative approach. Data collection was conducted through prospective monitoring, ie. a different method from the previous research, which was focused retrospectively. In addition, the research used other sources of...

The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between symptoms of ADHD (Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder) and motivation for change, to explore their role in the prediction of treatment completion and to identify domains in psycho-social characteristics which can affect the motivation. The sample was composed of 250 illicit-subsatnce users, treated in therapeutic communities for drug addicts. Motivation for change was assessed with the Change Questionnaire, the presence of ADHD symptoms was assessed with DIVA2.0 (Diagnostic interview for Adult ADHD). Respondents indicated strong motivation to change the problematic behavior, but the study struggled with high rate of premature dropping out of the treatment, so the hypothesis about the effect of measured motivation for successful completing of the tretment could not be confirmed or disconfirmed. The relationship between ADHD and motivation could not be confirmed as well. The most important finding is probably the positive correlation between rate of psychopathology and ADHD, and it's negative influence on motivation. The work also gives a report about the problem of measuring of motivation, and reports some suggestions for the improvement. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

individuals who self-identify as sex addicts, unique health and social consequences are not well understood because of factors, such as stigma. It is important that the nursing community understand this phenomenon to address, understand, and provide sensitive and meaningful care. However, there is limited research on this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of individuals who self-identify as sex addicts. Through snowball sampling, five men and five women between 27 to 45 years old, and older. participated in the phenomenological study. Meaning units and themes were revealed through the participants' experiences as follows: A Connecting with Others: 1. Reaching Out 2. Seeking Shared Understanding 3. Connecting with Your Higher Power B Managing Stigma: 1. Revealing Concealing C Integrating the Past for Recovery: 1. Reflecting Triggers 2. Overcoming Powerlessness. D Being Vigilant: 1. Intentional Refocusing 2. Living an Honest Life E Giving of Oneself: 1. Informing Others 2. Doing Service. The overall structure synthesized from the meaning units and themes was: "The lived experience of seeking health in recovery from sex addiction is dancing on the outer circle, connected to a community that understands fear, shame and the struggle to remain vigilant for pitfalls while intentionally refocusing on living an honest life of giving and receiving." Seeking health incorporates a holistic, community involved, multifaceted approach to recovery. Understanding how individuals seek health in recovery provides a framework to impart meaningful, sensitive nursing care. / by Lawren Mundy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Syftet för uppsatsen var att undersöka om klienter med tidigare narkotikaberoende upplever att de har möjlighet till inflytande inom vården som de tar del av. Syftet var även att ta reda på hur socialarbetare inom samma vårdprogram arbetar för att möjliggöra brukarinflytandet för klienterna. Vi utförde semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem klienter och två socialarbetare från samma behandlingshem. De teoretiska perspektiv som stod till grund för analysen av empirin var brukarinflytande och demokrati. Resultatet visar att klienterna upplevde stor delaktighet inom vårdprogrammet samt i kontakten med socialarbetarna på behandlingshemmet. Vidare visar resultatet att socialarbetarna arbetar utifrån deltagardemokrati då klienterna ständigt uppmuntras till att tänka självständigt, planera, fatta egna beslut och sätta upp mål för både behandlingen och inför framtiden. De begränsande faktorerna för brukarinflytande ansågs bland annat vara ekonomi, oengagerade socialarbetare samt skilda arbetssätt mellan kommunerna. Brukarinflytande inom missbruksvården kan gynna behandlingsresultaten och förebygga återfall då klienten får vara delaktig och påverka vårdens innehåll. Brukarinflytande kan leda till goda klient- och socialarbetarrelationer och detta kan även bidra till att allt fler individer med beroendeproblematik frivilligt söker hjälp. / The purpose of this study was to examine whether clients with former drug addiction feel that they are able to influence the care that they receive. The aim was also to find out how social workers operate to enable user influence amongst clients. We conducted semi-structured interviews with five clients and two social workers within one treatment home. The theoretical perspectives that were used to analyze the empirical data were user influence and democracy. The results show that clients experience significant involvement in their care-program and in relation to social workers at the treatment home. The results also show that the social workers apply democracy to their work since they constantly encourage clients to think independently, make their own decisions and set goals for the future. The limiting factors of user influence were considered to be financial questions, unengaged social workers, and different work procedures among municipalities. Since clients become involved and are able to influence the content of the care, user influence within addiction care is believed to benefit patient outcomes and prevent relapse. User influence can lead to positive social worker-client relationships and encourage individuals with addiction to voluntarily seek care.

The use of coercion to induce entry to addiction treatment is controversial and a large body of research has accumulated considering ethical issues, benefits, and repercussions. However, development of evidence-based policy and practices is hampered by limitations of existing literature. Theoretical and empirical work on self-determination suggests that perceptions of coercion have negative implications for motivation, behaviour change, and psychological well-being; however, these insights have not generally informed research on coerced treatment. The present work seeks to further understandings of the meaning and effectiveness of coerced addiction treatment through a theory-based, prospective study of coercion and treatment processes. The sample includes 276 adults admitted to an outpatient counseling program for alcohol- and drug-related problems. At admission, participants completed questionnaires on motivation, perceived coercion, and pressures to enter treatment. Two months later, a second questionnaire assessed engagement in treatment and substance problem severity (follow-up rate = 74.3%). Retention was determined via self-report and agency records. Analysis was guided by a conceptual model based on Self-Determination Theory. Perceived coercion at admission was associated with greater pressures from legal and informal sources, and lower substance problem severity. Fewer than half (45.7%) of participants were still attending treatment at 2-month follow-up. Clients who reported greater coercion were more likely to leave treatment within the first 2 months, and to qualify that decision by statements indicating a lack of perceived need for continued treatment. Greater autonomous motivation was associated with higher client confidence in treatment, and lower perceived coercion and greater informal pressure were associated with greater resolution of substance problems in the weeks following admission. This work contributes empirical evidence to ongoing debates over the legitimacy of coerced addiction treatment by reframing relevant concepts in terms of client perspectives and evaluating the impact on treatment processes. Results raise questions about previous conclusions of the effectiveness of coerced treatment and suggest many future avenues for research. In particular, research is needed to evaluate the longer-term implications of coercion and the changing nature of perceptions and motivation during treatment.

The use of coercion to induce entry to addiction treatment is controversial and a large body of research has accumulated considering ethical issues, benefits, and repercussions. However, development of evidence-based policy and practices is hampered by limitations of existing literature. Theoretical and empirical work on self-determination suggests that perceptions of coercion have negative implications for motivation, behaviour change, and psychological well-being; however, these insights have not generally informed research on coerced treatment. The present work seeks to further understandings of the meaning and effectiveness of coerced addiction treatment through a theory-based, prospective study of coercion and treatment processes. The sample includes 276 adults admitted to an outpatient counseling program for alcohol- and drug-related problems. At admission, participants completed questionnaires on motivation, perceived coercion, and pressures to enter treatment. Two months later, a second questionnaire assessed engagement in treatment and substance problem severity (follow-up rate = 74.3%). Retention was determined via self-report and agency records. Analysis was guided by a conceptual model based on Self-Determination Theory. Perceived coercion at admission was associated with greater pressures from legal and informal sources, and lower substance problem severity. Fewer than half (45.7%) of participants were still attending treatment at 2-month follow-up. Clients who reported greater coercion were more likely to leave treatment within the first 2 months, and to qualify that decision by statements indicating a lack of perceived need for continued treatment. Greater autonomous motivation was associated with higher client confidence in treatment, and lower perceived coercion and greater informal pressure were associated with greater resolution of substance problems in the weeks following admission. This work contributes empirical evidence to ongoing debates over the legitimacy of coerced addiction treatment by reframing relevant concepts in terms of client perspectives and evaluating the impact on treatment processes. Results raise questions about previous conclusions of the effectiveness of coerced treatment and suggest many future avenues for research. In particular, research is needed to evaluate the longer-term implications of coercion and the changing nature of perceptions and motivation during treatment.

The aim of this study is to research the effect stigmatization has on alcohol and drug abusers. Furthermore the purpose is to understand if stigmatization prevents people from seeking professional treatment in order to overcome their addiction. This is done using a qualitative approach, seeking knowledge on one of Sweden’s biggest online forums, Flashback. In order to gain knowledge from people who themselves suffer from addiction this study is based on several discussions in forum threads where addiction treatment is discussed. To analyse the data and research how stigmatization affects individuals with an addiction Goffman’s theory of stigma is used. To further analyse the result Scheff’s notion of shame and Cooley’s looking-glass self is used. The most prominent way to become free from addiction that was discussed was to strengthen your character or in other ways retake control of your own life. People often thought the reason a person was stuck in addiction was because of weak character or other character flaws. Drug and alcohol abusers was often portrayed as unsuccessful individuals. This shows how stigmatization of drug and alcohol abuse is reproduced. Professional treatment was in some cases discussed as a helpful method to help battle addiction, though not as often as the “strengthen your character” alternative. The result also shows that people stuck in addiction is not a homogeneous group where there is a consensus on how to best battle addiction. In contrast the result shows that everyone seems to carry their own opinion on how to best overcome addiction.