Oldal 87 [87]
6. GENERAL DISCUSSION ® 85
processes; the positive experience of drug use is often associated with a pos¬
itive “user” identity. In the later stages of substance use many negative expe¬
riences appear which has a conflict with the “user” identity (J. McIntosh &
McKeganey, 2000, 2001). Both of positive and negative experiences of addic¬
tion has great importance during the recovery process (Barros, 2012; Larkin
& Griffiths, 2002). As it was reported by previous studies, SC users have very
few positive experiences (Barratt et al., 2013; Vandrey et al., 2012). That is
why the research question of Study 3 is relevant, which is about how do the
users of SCs perceive their selves and their identity.
The main outcome of Study 3 is that the SC users’ process of identity
change is very different from the identity aspects of psychoactive substance
users, which suggests limitations for recovery (Figure 6.). In case of SC users,
no positive identity relates to the consumption of the drug, users experienced
their selves were transformed, and it could not become the part of their iden¬
tity. None of the elements that were reported by psychoactive substance users
to be important during recovery (positive user identity, “rock bottom” expe¬
rience, “non-user identity”) appeared in the narratives of SC users. Accord¬
ingly, addiction treatment services should focus on the “identity work” when
treating NPS users.
D
nn Den Recova identity >
e
6. Figure Identity change of synthetic cannabinoid users
On the other hand, SC users do not know what to think about or how to tell
their experiences. Due to the unpredictable and previously unexperienced
effects that SC use could evoke, users do not have suitable words to talk about
it. Self-help group could help psychoactive substance users learn to process
their experiences (Hanninen & Koski-Jannes, 1999). Thus a self-help group
or an (online) forum where SC users could share and read about other users’
struggles could be beneficial. This study has also highlighted that the aim of
drug use is not to have positive and pleasant experiences but to be “passed
out”. These results are consistent with another research study’s outcomes, B.
M. Erdés et al. (2018) described that in experiences of NPS users suicide
equivalent pattern appears which means active seeking for being “passed out”
that could break time and remembering.