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64 = USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
»rock bottom” is in formation of the addicted self, which helps to stay vigilant
against addiction (Larkin & Griffiths, 2002; Shinebourne & Smith, 201 1a),
but this did not appear in the accounts.
This study has several limitations. Based on the methodology of IPA a
small homogenous sample was recruited, which may question the study’s
generalizability. In addition, only male participants attended, so our results
may not apply to women. IPA is committed to idiographic inquiry - each
individuals account is examined in great detail (Smith et al., 2009) so the
method is not able to measure frequency and causality. We did not ask about
childhood or other life time trauma during the interviews; therefore, even
though the experiences of SC users are similar to some aspects to traumatic
experiences, we cannot disentangle childhood or other trauma from SC use
as a particular type of trauma. Despite these limitations, however, the findings
of this study may suggest some implications for recovery of SC users, but
further studies are needed to explore the recovery process of SC users.
4.5. CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that due to the fast alteration of experiences and the un¬
predictable effects of SCs, users of SCs have difficulties organizing their ex¬
periences into definite meaning structures and constructing collective
meanings. The experiences of SC users can be compared with some specifici¬
ties of traumatic experience; therefore, the experience of SC use may be
treated as a particular type of trauma. As a result, the resources of SC users
to change their self and construct a new non-addict identity are limited, which
may mean a significant obstacle in recovery. Hence, treatment should focus
on identity work more emphatically.