Browsing by Author "Westermarck, Josefin"

This Master’s thesis describes observations and understandings of one single discussion thread produced by drug-users in a Finnish pro-drug internet site. The research questions are: what is quitting drugs in this context and what is peer support in relation to quitting drugs in this context? The purpose of this thesis is, on the basis of the data map out both the subjective understandings about 'quitting' drug-use as well as forms of 'peer support.' that this anonymous and virtual environment offers for the drug-users. This data for this qualitative research is a discussion thread found online: the thread being one out of 4402 threads. This anonymous pro-drug internet site has over 2000 members, it is founded and maintained by drug users and has an informative function, distributing expertise for the online drug-user community. The members vary from marginalized problem users to recreational users. The discussion thread has been founded in the spring of 2012, it consist of 628 comments and has been viewed over 44 000 times. The data contains of 66 340 words and there are approximately 100 respondents. This thesis is written with an ethnographic touch: respecting both the culture of the online group, the vocabulary as well as the mutual understandings in the discussion. The theoretical framework is built on E. Goffmans Interaction ritual, Forms of talk and Stigma. Respectively the term ambiguous agency is utilized in the theoretical framework. The analysis is executed using two completing methodological tools: thematic analysis and actantial model by A. Greymas. Results show that there is in fact active agency occurring towards harm reduction in the ungoverned pro-drug internet site. In defining quitting drug use a spectrum of variations of definitions were found. These definitions or goals varied from not using at all to just using occasionally and from quitting altogether to moderating or adjusting the use; the main intention being taking control of ones use of drugs. Four type stories could be extracted from the data concerning of the recovery process: whether it is to continue use, to grow up to stop the use or to maintain sobriety. Also several different forms of peer support were taking place on the internet site: besides the social aspects of sharing the same experience, also the power of the written word and the therapeutic aspect of the diary like writing. The main result was that the role of the internet site and the discussion was to function as a supporting 'extension of self' for the quitter only to then outgrow both the discussion as well as group. The final stage of sobriety being reaching independency and leave both the drug life as well as the online peer support forum behind. It seems that the ungoverned discussion is a valuable tool in the drug quitting process for the respondents. As this tool may not work for everyone it does function for functional users that are comfortable in the online environment, that identify themselves with the drug-users and at last consider drug-users as peers. To these the forum and thread offer an irreplaceable as well as cost-effective tool of support in the quitting process adding ungoverned value to the harm reduction function.