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84 = USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
suggest essential aspects of identity change during the use of SC and recovery
from SC use. Otherwise, the findings of Study 2 and Study 3 are coherent with
the findings of Van Hout and Hearne (2016), participants in both studies
recounted intense cravings, and fear of the psychiatric and self-harms caused
when in withdrawal. Also, in 2016 we have started to work together with
Marie-Claire Van Hout and during this collaboration we compared the ac¬
counts of Irish and Hungarian SC users and conducted a metaphor analysis
on the shared data (Kald, Kassai, Racz, & Van Hout, 2018).
Study 2 and Study 3 are products of one comprehensive research, but the
findings of the research were published separately in two studies because
plenty of information was collected that could not be crammed in one paper
and would not fit with any journal’s interest. Since two prominent themes
were in the focus of the research: experience and identity, we decided to
publish the concerning results separately. On the other hand, IPA, the method
which was chosen for the research is particularly suitable for examining ex¬
periences and their impact on identity (Smith et al., 2009). Therefore, both
of Study 2 and Study 3 could stand alone, but the results could be put together
(such as there is a strong link between experience and identity).
In Study 2 we tried to capture research results that describe what kind of
experiences of SC users have, and how they interpret these experiences. Pre¬
vious research results suggest that the consumption of SC is associated with
many adverse effects, unpredictable psychological and physical effects (Bonar
et al., 2014; Castaneto et al., 2014; Fantegrossi et al., 2014; Fattore, 2016) and
it could also have some unique effects that are very different from another
kind of drugs (Vandrey et al., 2012; A. R. Winstock & Barratt, 2013). There¬
fore, Study 2 tried to uncover the subjective interpretation of these
experiences.
The primary results of Study 2 such as the effects of SC are perceived to be
unpredictable, and the experiences rapidly turn to negative resulted in un¬
predictable behavior of the user. They experienced the drug hijacked them,
and they felt vulnerable against it. Comparison of the effects and experiences
of SCs with other (psychoactive drugs) are important not only because NPSs
are more harmful than the “classic” ones, and health professionals should be
aware that users could have unpredictable behaviour, but addiction treatment
services and the recovery approach in addiction field is prepared to treat
psychoactive substance users. The classic methods may need some changes
and re-thinking to give appropriate answers to the new challenges of new
drugs with new patterns of use.
In Study 3 we tried to introduce the identity aspects of SC use. Many pre¬
vious studies were published on recovery from psychoactive substance ad¬
diction that utilized a qualitative approach. According to these studies, the
experiences of using psychoactive drugs and change of identity are parallel