Facilitating Recovery from Drug and Alcohol Problems: Reflections on Interviews with Service Users in Scotland

Service users were interviewed as part of a multi-method evaluation of an alcohol and drug social work service in Scotland. This paper explores service user interviews that were conducted in the evaluation, addressing the following questions: What did the service users feel about the service itself? Leading on from this, what did they see as helpful in facilitating their recovery in general? The research will be contextualised in Scotland’s culture of problematic drug and alcohol use, Scottish drug and alcohol policy and the emerging recovery-orientated approach. The methodology of the evaluation will be explained and findings from the service user interviews will be outlined under the headings: therapeutic relationships, outreach, timeframe, and holistic approach and joint working. The paper demonstrates the importance of service user accounts not only for providing general feedback on social work services, but also for giving specific insight into what is helpful for individuals seeking to recover from substance use problems.