Long-Term Recovery from Substance Use: European Perspectives

Description

In this much-needed text, leading international experts explore crucial aspects of people's experience of long-term recovery from substance use. Centred around the voices of people who use substances, the book examines their complex and continuing needs in seeking to change their use. In particular, it investigates the ways in which personal characteristics and social and systemic factors intersect to influence the lives of those in long-term recovery. With perspectives from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Iceland and the UK, it also considers the role and needs of family members, and puts forward clear recommendations for improving future research, policy and practice.

Sarah Galvani is Professor of Social Research and Substance Use at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has an international reputation for her research and practice development work. In particular, her early work around alcohol and domestic violence remains a significant contributor to the field of substance use research and theory development, as well as her subsequent work focussed on substance use in social work education and practice. Currently, her work focusses on research with groups of people using substances who are further marginalised. This has included work with particular ethnic communities, older people, and currently work on palliative and end of life care for people using substances. She has published over 100 outputs including peer reviewed articles, blogs, books, and book chapters. Alastair Roy is Professor of Social Research in the School of Social Work, Care and Community at the University of Central Lancashire. With a professional background in youth and community work and residential social work, Alastair is an inter-disciplinary academic who has more than 20 years of experience in social research. Alastair has published a widely on issues around substance use research and policy, youth homelessness and mental health. He has undertaken research across the fields of social welfare, health and the cultural sector, writing widely about participatory, ethnographic, mobile, visual and biographical methods. Amanda Clayson is the founder of VoiceBox Inc, an organisation grounded firmly in community networks, explicitly aimed at enhancing the influence and impact of lived experience across community, practice and policy arenas. Her work harnesses the power of digital and creative media as vehicles for connection, capturing and communication of authentic voice. She is a long term Community Research Partner with Manchester Metropolitan University.

"This book will get you thinking. Drawing on research and experiences from different countries and different substances, it skilfully explores relationships, trauma and life stages presenting lived experiences of long-term recovery." Hilda Loughran, Associate Professor of Social Work/Social Policy at University College Dublin "A particular strength of the book is the prominence it gives to the voices of experts by experience, either because their substance use has been problematic for them or because it has affected them as family members." Jim Orford, University of Birmingham and King's College London