Browsing by Author "Tallqvist, Jenni"

The purpose of this research is to identify why the professional substance abuse counselors, which have overcome their own substance abuse problems, leave to study substance abuse professional qualifications, even if they have already found a job without a degree. Is it compulsion or something else? The study will also identify what studies can provide to an all seen addict, if anything. The main research questions are: 1. What made the professional substance abuse counselors, who were also former substance abusers seek training? 2. What they felt that they got out of the training? This study is a qualitative research. For the study, five former substance abuser, who are working as professional substance abuse counselors were interviewed, all twice. After overcoming their own substance problems, the subjects had started to work as substance abuser counselors to make substance abuse work and acquired later substance abuse professional degree. The research material was collected by themed interviews. The data was inspected by using content analysis. The study shows that the former drug users were not very strongly motivated to study substance abuse work. However, during the studies their external motivation changes to the internal. All those who were interviewed felt that studying gave them something. Education, inter alia, increased self-esteem, a new perspective on substance abuse work and the tools to work.