Abstract
Background: The perceived benefits of drug use are not currently integrated into the treatment of substance use disorder. This omission appears paradoxical and is unsubstantiated by empirical research. As the perceived benefits of drug use are catalysts for drug initiation, relapse and continuous use, increased knowledge about these benefits seems crucial to efficacious treatment. Aims: To investigate the perceived benefits of drug use in substance use disorder. Method: The study is a phenomenological-hermeneutical investigation using thematic analysis of interviews with 30 long-term recovered adult service users. Results: Our thematic analysis resulted in three themes and several sub-themes: (1) Benefits of drug use; (2) Necessity of intense experiences; and (3) Importance of being unconventional. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the benefits of non-problematic and problematic drug use are motivated by similar individual and social needs. An absolute distinction between problematic and non-problematic drug use thus seems arbitrary and potentially counterproductive for clinical practice. The benefits of drug use should be researched as a possible add-on treatment module, as this knowledge may be of significant clinical value in treatment frameworks.
Highlights
The perceived benefits of drug use are not currently integrated into the treatment of substance use disorder
E-mail: jone.r.bjornestad@uis.com associated with creativity and imaginative capacity (Carson, 2011; Power et al, 2015), and there appear to be favourable aspects of a range of other mental health conditions. We explore these aspects within the context of substance use disorder (SUD), which often coexists with other mental illness
While the focus of the interview guide was on elements contributing to participants’ recovery, participants spent a substantial amount of time describing their positive experiences with using drugs
Summary
The perceived benefits of drug use are not currently integrated into the treatment of substance use disorder. This omission appears paradoxical and is unsubstantiated by empirical research. Aims: To investigate the perceived benefits of drug use in substance use disorder. Results: Our thematic analysis resulted in three themes and several sub-themes: (1) Benefits of drug use; (2) Necessity of intense experiences; and (3) Importance of being unconventional. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the benefits of non-problematic and problematic drug use are motivated by similar individual and social needs. The benefits of drug use should be researched as a possible add-on treatment module, as this knowledge may be of significant clinical value in treatment frameworks
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