Determination of the problems experienced by convicts with a history of substance abuse regarding substance abstinence in the execution process: The case of Manisa Tipi Closed Penal Institution

The aim of this study is to examine what are the problems experienced by convicts with a history of substance abuse during their stay in the penal institution, what are their coping strategies with the difficulties they experience in this process, and what kind of professional support they need in this process. When we examine the literature, it is seen that the majority of the studies on convicts with a history of substance addiction are in the probation process, and there are few studies conducted in penal institutions. The research was conducted in phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods. The research was conducted by applying a semi-structured interview form with 14 convicts who met the inclusion criteria in Manisa T Type Closed Prison. The analysis of the research was conducted with MAXQDA 2024 program and 4 main themes emerged. These themes are substance use and its effects, being in a penal institution and substance withdrawal, the effect of social support mechanism on substance use and recommendations. As a result of the research, it was seen that convicts with a history of substance addiction experience deprivation during the execution process and receive support from their roommates in this process, there is a taboo on receiving medical or psychosocial support and they are afraid of being stigmatized. It was seen that family support is important in the penal institution or outside, and that it is also effective in the period when the convicts experience deprivation. Keywords: Substance Addiction, Convict, Abstinence, Social Work Practice, Addiction and Social Work, Forensic Social Work