Exploring Experiences of Quitting Illicit Substance Use

Abstract

Research on illicit drug use involving first-hand experiences of individuals who have successfully quit on their own has received limited attention in empirical works. The following study sought to explore how individuals make the decision to quit using illicit drugs on their own without receiving formal interventions or treatment. Critical moments during the decision-making process were also examined. Framed under an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology, the quitting experiences of six participants were qualitatively analyzed for meaningful themes to help provide insights and understanding on the phenomenon. Results indicated three superordinate themes best accounted for participant interpretations of their experiences: The Incongruent Self, The Tipping Point and Creating Space for Change. Together, these themes represent how decisions were made to quit illicit drug use without any external intervention, as well as the strategies and changes individuals employed to be successful in their recovery. Implications of findings offer practical insight for therapeutic and educational interventions, evidence of a phenomenon still in a stage of relative infancy in the larger scientific community, as well as hope for individuals contemplating the likelihood of successfully quitting themselves.