Motivating Factors in Recovery from Drug and Alcohol Dependency

Abstract

            Addiction is a worldwide problem with countless negative effects on individuals, families and society. These impacts include family disruption, loss of parental rights, employment loss, dissolution of the marriage, abuses both psychological and physical, mental health disorders such as depression and over all poor health. Approximately 75 percent of people with this disorder take steps towards sobriety. Of these 75 percent, 46 percent will achieve this recovery without any recognized treatment program. In this study, I used a phenomenological framework to explore the motivating factors that led individuals to seek recovery, particularly where no outside treatment program was sought or undertaken, natural or self-recovery. The themes that were developed from this analysis indicate that a variety of internal and external factors act as motivating factors in recovery. These include a desire for strong family relations and to avoid jail and other contact with law enforcement. Further motivating factors include a belief in their own value, preventing health issues such as overdose and other near-death experiences and an overall feeling that it is time to stop. One interesting theme uncovered which has not been well documented previously was a desire to prove others wrong.