Date of Award
Summer 2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Program
Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Jennifer, Cook M.
Second Advisor
Knox, Sarah
Third Advisor
Callender, Karisse
Abstract
In the last several years, rates and concern about opioid addiction in the US have intensified. It is estimated that more than 130 people die every day from opioid-related drug overdoses (National Center for Health Statistics, 2017). Although there is increased attention on the lethal potential of opioid addiction, narratives about healing from opioid addiction are absent. The purpose of this study was to develop a biopsychosocial understanding of how people heal, not only maintain abstinence, from opioid addiction. Results show four overall phases of healing (i.e., Inactive Healing, Early Active Healing, Middle Active Healing, and Late Active Healing), four Continuous Core Components of healing (i.e., 12-Step Programs, Psychotherapy, Spirituality, and Relationships with Others), and 15 themes of healing ranging from Substance Use Treatment to Effectively Processing Trauma to Self-Love. The healing journey begins with opioid addiction itself, and continues through to the last phase of healing, wherein participants have transformed their lives and concretized a sense of personal empowerment. Throughout the Early, Middle, and Late phases of Active Healing, participants spoke to the importance of 12-Step Programs, Spirituality, Psychotherapy, and their Relationships with Others as core components that fueled their healing. Based on the insight participants shared about their healing journey, I developed a Treatment Emphasis Model for providers on the structure, focus, and timing of interventions to best assist people in healing from opioid addiction.