U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Recovery from Dependent Drug Use: Addicts' Strategies for Reducing the Risk of Relapse

NCJ Number
185366
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 179-192
Author(s)
James McIntosh; Neil McKeganey
Date Published
May 2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examines drug addicts' strategies for reducing the risk of relapse.
Abstract
Based on a set of semi-structured interviews with a sample of 70 recovering addicts, this study describes the ways in which these individuals sought to avoid becoming re-addicted. Their two main strategies were avoidance of their former drug-using network and friends and developing a set of non-drug-related activities and relationships. The article describes the strategies in detail and examines the factors which facilitate or impede their chances of success. It also discusses implications of the findings for policy and practice in relation to recovering addicts. Help for addicts who are motivated to change might include counseling and support, improved employment opportunities and help in relocating out of the area of their drug misuse. The article suggests the usefulness of involving housing managers in identifying accommodations suitable to the needs of recovering addicts, involving local employers in seeking to maximize opportunities for paid employment and extending programs designed to assist recovering addicts in occupying their time constructively and in developing new relationships. References