The self help experiences of drug addicts and their families: The case of AYBUDER

The purpose of this research is to explore the self-help experiences of substance addicts and their families who receive support from Sober Living Association in the substance addiction process and to try to understand the addiction process comprehensively based on the experiences of individuals. The research was carried out with qualitative research method. In this context, in-depth interviews were held with a total of 13 individuals, 9 of them recovering addicts and 4 family members, who received support from Sober Living Association. In these interviews, the reasons for the substance use of individuals, the problems with addiction, the experiences of addict families, the clinical treatment processes, Sober Living Association defines, the self-help experiences of the addict and their families, the difference of Sober Living Association's work from other models, the changes in addict families, addicts' sobriety strategies and future plans were focused on. At the end of the research, it was seen that the effect of social environment and friends, past traumas, search for meaning in life and family problems were among the risk factors that cause substance use. In addition to these reasons, it has been determined that addicts use substances as a means of escaping from problems. It was explored that the participants had negative clinical treatment experiences due to the negative attitudes and behaviors of health workers, the thought of not being understood, the use of intensive drugs and putting psychosocial needs into the background. It has been seen that Sober Living Association supports the recovery processes of the recovering addicts and their families by organizing group meetings, individual studies and various social activities. It uses the 12-step program in its works and has the feature of a self-help group. It has been explored that the members of the group that come together due to a common problem, when they help each other, strengthen their sobriety, and that the self-help group acts as a natural control in preventing substance use. Keeping in touch with the ex-user guide and regular participation in group meetings have been shown to support the sobriety process. It is thought that this research analyzes the phenomenon of addiction in a multifaceted way, as it includes both addict and family experiences, and this makes the research unique. Future research on this subject may focus on how self-help groups can be organized and spread in our country.