There is extensive literature available on the topic of recovery from alcohol abuse. The research focus of this study explores diverse ways in which the practice of faith and spirituality in any form have affected individuals’ recovery and wellness from a post-positivist perspective. The following question is addressed: How does faith and spirituality impact the recovery process and wellness of alcohol abusers? The study was conducted by interviewing volunteer members of three Alcoholics Anonymous mutual-help groups located in Southern California. Participants were asked 15 open ending questions interview. The study uses open and axial coding for analysis. The indirect variables (IV) for this study are faith and spirituality and the direct variables (DV) are recovery and wellness. Qualitative data has been analyzed using Nvivo data analysis software. Some of the themes that emerged from the interviews after coding were family history, willingness to recover, sense of hope, acquired coping skills, belonging to a healing community, and long-lasting sobriety. The analysis of the interviews and these themes showed a positive correlation between the practice of faith and spirituality and recovery and wellness among the pool of participants. Alcoholics with three or more years attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings reported that they earned at least one year of sobriety through being willing to recover, having a sense of hope, the practice of new skills and spiritual tools, being consistent in attending the group meetings, and being at service of other alcoholics.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka på vilka sätt socialsekreterare ser på sitt arbete med äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk. Målet med undersökningen var att få en fördjupad förståelse för hur socialsekreterares erfarenheter kan relatera till de insatser och arbetsmetoder vilket socialtjänsten erbjuder äldre personer med alkoholmissbruksproblematik. Metoden som tillämpades var en kvalitativ metod och vi valde att inhämta vårt empiriska material genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det var 12 respondenter som deltog i undersökningen, 10 socialsekreterare och två enhetschefer inom vuxenavdelningen på respektive socialtjänst. Med användning av tidigare forskning samt begreppen socialsekreterare, äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk, empowerment och samverkan kunde resultatet analyseras. Socialsekreterare arbetar inom olika enheter på socialtjänsten där vuxenenheten är den avdelning vi valt att fokusera på eftersom den omfattar äldre personer med alkoholmissbruk. I arbetet med klienten har de lagar de utgår ifrån och det är främst Socialtjänstlagen (SFS2001:453) och Lag (SFS1988:870) om vård av missbrukare i vissa fall. I ett allt mer åldrande samhälle möter socialsekreterare allt fler individer inom missbruksområdet vilket gör att dessa socialsekreterare behöver kunskap kring de äldres åldrande och livsvillkor. Studiens resultat visade på hur majoriteten av respondenterna betonade hur viktig eftervården var för klientens fortsatta nykterhet, vikten av motiverande samtal som arbetsmetod och en god relation till klienten för att kunna ge utrymme till klientens egen vilja till förändring samt betydelsen av en god samverkan i syfte att kunna ge klienten bästa möjliga hjälp. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the ways in which social welfare secretaries look at their work with elderly people with alcohol abuse. The aim of the survey was to gain a deeper understanding of how social welfare secretaries' experiences can relate to the efforts and working methods, which social services offer elderly people with alcohol abuse problems. The method we used was a qualitative method and we chose to collect our empirical material through semi-structured interviews. There were 12 respondents who participated in the survey, 10 social welfare secretaires and two branch managers in the adult department of the respective social services. Using previous research and the concepts of social welfare secretaries, elderly people with alcohol abuse, empowerment and collaboration, the results could be analyzed. Social welfare secretaries work in different social services units, where the adult unit is the department we have chosen to focus on as it includes elderly people with alcohol abuse. In the work with the client, the laws they are based on are in some cases the Social Services Act (SFS2001: 453) and the Care of abusers (special provisions act) (SFS1988: 870). In an increasingly aging society, social welfare secretaries meet more and more individuals in the area of abuse, which means that these social welfare secretaries need knowledge about the aging and living conditions of the elderly. The study's results showed how the majority of respondents emphasized the importance of aftercare for the client's continued sobriety, the importance of motivating conversations as a working method and a good relationship with the client in order to provide space for the client's own will for change as well as the importance of a good collaboration with the aim of to provide the client with the best possible help.