Life after sober house living for drug use recovery in Zanzibar: does normal life or re-addiction?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background The study aimed at assessing the extent to which recovered addicts and peoples recovered from sober houses reintegrate in the community life in Zanzibar. Methods The study applied a qualitative research design whereby Sober Living Homes (SLHs) operators provided 86 contacts of the recovered individuals. Researchers started to communicate with them for future interviews. Of the 86 recovered individuals, researchers managed to communicate with 62 respondents, of whom only 39 were found eligible for the interviews. However, only 26 participated in the research since 13 of the eligible candidates declined participation. Results and Discussions The results revealed that re-admission of the recovered individuals to SLHs persists, making drug use a public concern in Zanzibar. The study identified that community-negative attitudes toward recovery efforts, surrounding environment, easy access to drugs, lack self-awareness, lack of enough knowledge, lack of activities to do, life challenges and stress, friends, and own decision to start drug use again as the significant driving factors for the readmission to drugs. In addition, drug use among the recovered persists because the community pays less concern to the recoving individuals. Conclusion and Recommendations Community based factors are potential for complete recovery process from drug use among reintegrated drug users. The study recommends that the lovely welcoming of drug users after sober house life is very critical to the reintegration of these drug users into their community. Moreover, the study recommends the government to be fully committed to the struggle against drug use.