Becoming an ex-user: insights into the process and implications for treatment and policy

Studies of the processes by which people give up dependent heroin use are useful in helping services evaluate their treatment practices and in informing drug policy debates. In this exploratory investigation, a diverse group of 18 Canberra-based ex-users was interviewed about stopping, the role of treatment and their views on a proposal to make heroin available in a controlled manner as a new treatment option. Factors involved in stopping dependent heroin use included 'hitting rock bottom' or a less intense crisis such as the death by overdose of someone close, falling in love, wanting to be a good parent, geographical relocation, wanting to avoid becoming caught up with the police or going to jail, maturing out or becoming sick of the lifestyle, finding a new purpose in life or developing a new lifestyle, dealing with past hurts and the support of family, friends, other ex-users and professionals. Many respondents had been in methadone treatments and in therapeutic communities and their advantages and disadvantages in stopping use are discussed. The respondents were evenly divided in their support for the controlled availability of heroin and the potential benefits and problems of such treatment are also discussed.