Roads to recovery : the social practices of male adolescent former users of amphetamine-type stimulants in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Abstract

Rather than focusing on the detrimental aspects of amphetamine-type stimulant use, this qualitative research paper was conducted as an in-depth study of the experiences of former male drug users on the path to recovery. Structurationism, used as a theoretical lens, was applied in order to explore the structural factors that lead young male adolescents to drug use and to examine their role in ceasing their own drug dependency. Six former methamphetamine (Yama and Ice) users were interviewed to study their past experiences on the path to recovery. Six key informant interviews were also performed, in order to hear the voices of society on drug users in general. In addition, two observations were done at a drug rehabilitation center to explore available means of drug treatments. The results revealed that the influential factors in the informants' lives included: thinking of their parents' reputation in the community, recalling the gratitude and loving-kindness provided by their parents, realizing the destructive power of drugs, seeing negative effects in other users, and wanting to return to school were the main turning points in the decision to quit drugs. In order to successfully quit drugs, they employed a number of strategies, such as: keeping their distance from drug-using friends, avoiding excessive alcohol drinking, building up self-commitment, learning from past failures, ignoring hurtful words from friends that might encourage a return to the use of drugs, going to a rehabilitation center, becoming a Buddhist monk, and changing their environmental setting. They used these strategies not only to quit drugs, but also to maintain their agency to prevent relapse. Mainstream media regarding the detrimental effects of drug will continue to be broadcast and published. Society should avoid blaming and further isolating recovering young drug users. This could push many to return to drug use. Public perception will change from ignorant discrimination to compassionate awareness since more and more young people are