About the Study
People are capable of making great changes in their life. Of particular interest is how people make changes to their problematic substance use. No one solution or pathway works for all and this is a reflection of the uniqueness of each person. This study is interested in understanding the diversity in people’s stories as they overcame their prior problems with drugs and/or alcohol. What helped? What hurt? What specifically about that person contributed to what helped or hurt? And how can we approach treatment so that it capitalizes on an individual's strengths and allows them to reach their full potential? These are just some questions this study is seeking to answer.
Survey Phase
The study is unfolding in two parts. First, there is a public survey open to anybody who identifies as having resolved a prior issue with drugs and/or alcohol. The link to the study can be found here. The survey should take anywhere from 10-15 minutes. This survey is unpaid and completely voluntary. It will ask about the nature of your prior use, the process you underwent to change your use, and some questions about how you see yourself. The survey will be completely anonymous UNLESS you want to provide contact information to participate in a follow up interview. If you chose to opt in to participating in an interview, please know that participation is not guaranteed. Instead, you will be put into a pool with other individuals and selection will be in part random and deliberate to ensure maximum diversity among interview participants.
Interview Phase
The second phase of the study is a paid in-depth interview. Interviews will be about 60-90 minutes with the goal of better understanding your unique attributes and your story. The interview will specifically focus on your thought processes, how you talk to yourself and how your identity plays a role in making changes in your life. All interviews will take place virtually and scheduled at your convenience.
Analyzing the Results
The results of this study are being used for a dissertation project. This project is fundamentally concerned with how individuals confront their social structure, specifically obstacles and opportunities, and showcase a sense of agency in changing their behavior. As a person who has undergone a valiant display of resilience and strength your insight is greatly valued. The information you, and all the other participants provide will be analyzed and discussed in a final dissertation project. This website will provide updates as the project moves forward. In addition, if you would like to sign up for email alerts for future updates, you can sign up below.
This research project has been approved XXXX IRB Contact information