“And then the rest happened”— A qualitative exploration of the role that meaningful activities play in recovery processes for people with a diagnosis of substance use disorder
Veseth, Marius; Svendsen, Thomas Solgaard; Nesvaag, Sverre; Moltu, Christian; Davidson, Larry; Bjornestad, Jone
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Date
2021Metadata
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Veseth, M., Svendsen, T. S., Nesvaag, S., Moltu, C., Davidson, L., & Bjornestad, J. (2022). “And then the rest happened”—A qualitative exploration of the role that meaningful activities play in recovery processes for people with a diagnosis of substance use disorder. Substance Abuse, 43(1), 260-266. 10.1080/08897077.2021.1941506Abstract
Background: In this qualitative exploration, we report on a thematic analysis of the key role that engaging in meaningful activities may play in recovery processes for people with a diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD). Methods: We conducted semi-structured, individual interviews with 30 participants and analyzed the parts of this material that were related to meaningful activities. Results: The findings are summarized through the development of three broad themes: (a) the central role of work—“The wages suck, but the job is gold”; (b) mastery and commitment—“I had to get up early, find my spot, I had to be present and fully functioning all day”; and (c) repairing the bridge to community life—“It’s my job and working out that has made this possible, really, I see that now.” Conclusion: We discuss these findings in relation to a recovery perspective and relevant empirical studies, highlight some important implications for research and practice, and consider the strengths and limitations of the present study.