'But … Would I Be Able to Toast With Friends?' When Service Users Ask for New Care Pathways

Area of Science:

• Addiction treatment
• Mental health services research
• Adolescent and young adult psychology

Background:

• The WHO European Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2030) advocates for inclusive care and co-constructed practices.
• Current substance abuse treatment often mandates complete abstinence, which may not align with all young adults' needs.
• Exploratory research is needed to understand the specific needs of young substance abusers in residential care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the needs of young substance abusers during residential treatment.
• To explore the potential inclusion of a controlled alcohol intake phase within rehabilitation.
• To critically examine the concept of complete abstinence as a prerequisite for discharge.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen young adults (aged 19-32) in a residential rehabilitation program in Italy.
• Participants were non-alcoholists undergoing treatment for 6-18 months.
• Interviews focused on exploring needs in preparation for program completion, specifically regarding alcohol management.

Main Results:

• Young adults expressed difficulties integrating their new identity with their past substance use.
• Resistance to total abstinence and uncertainties about post-rehabilitation alcohol behavior were identified.
• Unexpected needs included testing alcohol management skills, building self-control competence, and co-designing personalized therapeutic paths.

Conclusions:

• Treatment personalization is crucial, moving beyond standardized approaches for users capable of self-control.
• The user-operator relationship is vital for addressing individual needs and fostering a new identity.
• Involving participants in co-designing therapeutic strategies enhances service relevance and user-centered care.