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6. GENERAL DISCUSSION ® 85 processes; the positive experience of drug use is often associated with a positive “user” identity. In the later stages of substance use many negative experiences appear which has a conflict with the “user” identity (J. McIntosh & McKeganey, 2000, 2001). Both of positive and negative experiences of addiction 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 identity. None of the elements that were reported by psychoactive substance users to be important during recovery (positive user identity, “rock bottom” experience, “non-user identity”) appeared in the narratives of SC users. Accordingly, 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.
