”Som en alien i ett par för små skor”En kvalitativ studie om hur missbrukare upprätthåller sin värdighet

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether addicted in society maintain their personal dignity. Many studies about this issue have been focused on how hard it is to be an addicted, but few have focused on how an addicted handle this situation. Our preconception before this study was that addicts are a stigmatized group not treated with dignity. With this as starting point, our aim has been to let the addicted with their own words describe how they handle their situation and witch strategies they use to uphold their dignity. Method: A qualitative approach is used; we have condicted five semi structured in- depth interviews. The information we have obtained through interviews, we have in the analysis weighed against the theories we believe are relevant to our preconception. We have then categorized the collected information after those themes we found central in the interviews and which we have found can be related to the main questions of this study. Result: The results show many strategies about how people with drug- and alcohol abuse handle their situation. Among others it shows that occupation or work is an important strategy to maintain the personal dignity. Personal self-esteem and how one is regarded by others, is not of less importance concerning how the addict looks at him self and his abuse. To some extent, our preliminary opinion (i.e. that addicts are stigmatized) was confirmed, but was also challenged. It depends on the situation whether the addict becomes stigmatized or not.