Stories of building friendships during long-term recovery from problematic substance use
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21724711 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mariann Iren Vigdal (0000-0003-1913-7149, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, corresponding author), Thomas Solgaard Svendsen (0000-0002-3956-8547, Stavanger University Hospital), Christian Moltu (0000-0003-3269-6383, Department of Psychiatry, District General Hospital of Førde, Førde, Norway), Jone Bjørnestad (0000-0003-0381-1741, University of Stavanger), Lillian Bruland Selseng (0000-0003-1801-1114, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 868-886 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Qualitative Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1473-3250 • E-ISSN: 1741-3117 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/14733250241242028 |
| OpenAlex | W4393180093 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 26 |
Background Building friendship is crucial for attaining and upholding recovery from problematic substance use. However, how people who have used substances problematically develop friendships needs to be investigated more from a first-person perspective. Aim To provide insight into how people in long-term recovery find meaning in their experience of building friendships. Method In semi-structured interviews, 17 people in recovery drew network maps and reflected on how friendships had developed during the long-term process. We analysed the narratives by way of a thematic narrative approach. Results Participants presented the friendship-formation process through four distinct storylines: (1) ‘I don’t make friends easily’; (2) overcoming barriers to building friendships; (3) ‘birds of a feather flock together’; and (4) ‘having “regular” friends makes me feel like an “average” person’. Conclusion People in long-term recovery from problematic substance use felt haunted and hindered by past experiences when building friendships. These experiences created a social divide between those who had experienced problematic substance use and those who had not. The valuable insights that social workers can gain from this study can support friendship development for people in long-term recovery on multiple levels. By understanding someone’s self-perceptions and their perspectives on others, social workers can engage with barriers when people in recovery enter social environments such as work. We emphasise the significance of a long-term approach to overcoming barriers to building new friendships
Friendship · Narrative · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Community Health and Development · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
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Narrative in Social Work
The teller-focused interview
The science of recovery capital
The association between perceived stigma and substance use disorder treatment outcomes
Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health
How often are outcomes other than change in substance use measured? A systematic review of outcome measures in contemporary randomised controlled trials
Social recovery in substance use disorder
A Life More Ordinary” Processes of 5-Year Recovery From Substance Abuse. Experiences of 30 Recovered Service Users
How to Maintain High Retention Rates in Long-Term Research on Addiction
Overcoming alcohol and other drug addiction as a process of social identity transition
Narratives of Change
Rebuilding Social Networks in Long-term Social Recovery from Substance-Use Problems
Narrative Research Evolving
Positioning
| Citations per year | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |