The Recovery Process of Adolescent Drug Abusers:How Change Started and Persisted?

• Main Authors: Shin-Yin Liu, 劉心穎
• Other Authors: 陳毓文
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/fxmg5f

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 社會工作學研究所 === 107 === In the past few years, the number of adolescent drug abusers has increased sharply and became a serious problem in our society. Although there are many researches and exploration, most of them focus on drug use and prevention rather than recovery. To better understand the process of recovery, this study examined the experience of using drug, the motivation of behavior change and the facilitators and barriers to drug abstinence from the perspective of former adolescent drug abusers. 　　 The study employed qualitative research design and conducted in-depth interview with 5 individuals who has a history of drugs use during adolescence and has recovered with a new lifestyle for 6 or more months. According to participants, the motivation of change were crucial events, such as prison and traffic accident, which defined as turning point in the study. There are 5 stages in recovery process: turning point, abstinence of physical addition (the transitional period), determination, psychological and social recovery, and maintained sustained abstinence. The study also examined the facilitators and barriers during the recovery process. Besides self-efforts, the facilitators during recovery process are religion, family and friends, school attendance or employment. While participants might encounter different barriers during their process of recovery. In the early stage of recovery, the barriers were the negative feelings and emotions, such as loneliness and isolation, which arisen by severing all ties with drug-using friends and environment. After adapting to the new live and environment, barriers became the frustrations or pressures in daily life. To sum up, findings show the following characteristics of recovery: a) The motivation to change might not coming with turning point, instead it appears in the early stage of drug-using process; b) Environment plays an important part in adolescent drug abuse; c) The relatively young age and the experience of recovery are the advantages to sustained abstinence. 　　 Based on the results, the study suggests that to work with adolescent drug abusers, social workers should build up a friend-like relationship with them. Moreover, social workers should continue working with other professionals to create a supportive environment for these young drug users. On policy planning, the current study suggests that public service should also focus on helping the informal support of adolescent drug abusers. Furthermore, from school, community to family, a pragmatic and integrated drug abuse service system should be established.