Abstract
The concepts of identity and recovery capital are recognized as being an embedded part of moving away from a life dominated by drug use. However, the link between these two concepts and the effect of broader social structures, and the normative assumptions underpinning the condition of recovery, is less explored. This article focuses on the social practices of everyday life in the foreground of identity formation, meaning that “who I am” is an inseparable part of “what I do.” A narrative approach was employed to analyze qualitative follow-up data extracted from 48 in-depth interviews with 17 males and females with drug-using experience that were conducted posttreatment on three separate occasions over a period of 2.5 years. Theories of identity formation were employed to analyze the interdependent dynamic between social structure, persona and social resources, and way of life and identity. The analyses identified four narratives related to how people present themselves through the process of changing practices. Following the work of Honneth, we argue that the positive identity formation revealed in these narratives is best understood as a struggle for recognition via the principle of achievement. However, the participants’ self-narratives reflected cultural stories—specified as formula stories—of “normality,” “addiction,” and the “addict,” which work into the concepts of self and confine options of storying experiences during the recovery process. This study demonstrate that the process of recovery is culturally embedded and constitutes a process of adaption to conventional social positions and roles. We suggest challenging dominant discourses related to “addiction as a disease” and “normality” in order to prevent stigma related to drug use and recovery. In so doing, it may contribute to broaden conditions for identity (trans)formation for people in recovery.
Highlights
Moving away from a life dominated by drug use is a complex and multifaceted process phenomenon
After several rounds of analysis we identified four distinct narratives related to how the respondents answered the question “who am I now?” We labeled them as follows: (1) “a person with a shameful past,” (2) “I am new in this life,” (3) “I am a responsible and productive citizen,” and (4) “addiction will always be part of me.”
The narratives identified in this study provide some answers to the research question “who am I now?” aimed at illuminating aspects of the experiences of identityformation when moving away from a life dominated by drug use
Summary
Moving away from a life dominated by drug use is a complex and multifaceted process phenomenon. Best et al (2016) emphasize that belonging to social groups and networks acts as resources that support life transformation and identity Such resources relate to the concept of RC, which accounts for the process of rebuilding one’s life and has been widely used (Cloud & Granfield, 2008; Granfield & Cloud, 2001; Hennessy, 2017). The literature on identity and RC has made valuable contributions toward understanding the process of recovery It is critiqued for focusing mainly on individual-level factors, leaving power relations, the effect of broader social structures and the normative assumptions underpinning the condition of recovery unexplored (Boeri et al, 2016; Fomiatti et al, 2017, 2019; Hennessy, 2017; Lancaster, 2017; Lancaster et al, 2015; McKeganey, 2014; PriceRobertson et al, 2017). Provide valuable insights into to relational and normative aspects of the processes of moving away from a life dominated by drug use
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