Abstract

The voices of women in recovery have long been absent in treatment studies and addiction recovery debates. Available qualitative research primarily applies interview and focus group methods, but in this study we used an innovative photovoice method to uncover the personal recovery stories and pathways of women with a history of (illicit) substance use problems. Eight women who are initiating or maintaining recovery met monthly over a six-month period to select pictures and to share and find common themes, related to facilitators and barriers in their recovery process. The results highlight the complexities and positive and negative dynamics of recovery capital in relation to gender and other social constructs. Four themes were identified as building stones for initiating and maintaining recovery: (1) (Re-)building me; (2) Untangling what is life and what is addiction; (3) Becoming (re-)connected; and (4) (Enacting) perspectives on the future. The study revealed the methodological potential of the photovoice method for exploring interconnected recovery challenges among women, as well as the destructive impact of negative social norms on women’s recovery experiences.

摘要

在治疗研究和成瘾恢复辩论中，长期缺乏康复妇女的声音。可用的定性研究主要采用访谈和焦点小组方法，但在本研究中，我们使用了一种创新的 photovoice 方法来揭示有（非法）物质使用问题历史的女性的个人康复故事和途径。八名开始或维持康复的女性在六个月的时间里每月会面，选择图片，分享和找到与康复过程中的促进因素和障碍相关的共同主题。结果突出了与性别和其他社会结构相关的复苏资本的复杂性以及积极和消极的动态。四个主题被确定为启动和维持复苏的基石：（1）（重新）建设我；（2）解开什么是生活，什么是瘾；(3) 成为（重新）连接；(4)（制定）对未来的看法。该研究揭示了 photovoice 方法在探索女性之间相互关联的康复挑战方面的方法学潜力，以及负面社会规范对女性康复经历的破坏性影响。