This study utilizes interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and derives meaning from the lived experiences of 5 alcoholic women with over 20 years sober from alcohol and attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Semi-structured interview questions are coded to expose themes detailing early childhood experiences, consequences related to drinking, the sense of self, and the search for wholeness. A psychoanalytic perspective informs the underlying developmental aspects of alcoholism. The interviews reveal significant emotional, physical, and sexual trauma that produced a repetition compulsion and lack of groundedness within the self. The lack of an internal structure to modulate or process anxiety, frustration, and disappointment reinforces a false sense of self. This includes implosive and explosive primary and secondary defenses: childhood tantrums, thoughts of suicide, sexual promiscuity, compulsive lying, a lack of internal wholeness, eating disorders, impulsivity, and severe loneliness. Due to the lack of a healthy mother-infant unit, participants report an inability to internalize and create autonomy. Research indicates pervasive dependent personality problems, domestic violence, and socio-economic considerations affecting a women's ability to seek treatment and remain sober. Language and gender biases in Alcoholics Anonymous and in treatment centers further hinders recovery. Research indicates that professionals working with alcoholic women need advanced training to best assist alcoholic women in creating wholeness. Research indicates the need for a recovery model that includes socioeconomic factors, cultural norms, trauma and women's stories.

"Extensive research has been conducted on issues of sexuality for women with Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD). These issues are relevant both to the development of and recovery from AUD. Little of this research has focused on the importance of women's beliefs about sexuality at the time of drinking and during recovery. This study sought to identify these beliefs and to determine their importance in the development of and recovery from AUD. A qualitative research design was used whereby interviews with four women in long-term recovery (3 or more years) were analyzed. It was found that, overall, beliefs about sexuality became more positive during recovery. Women tended to have less sex during recovery and reported that the sex was better than while drinking. Women's relationships with themselves and others improved improved significantly during recovery. It is within the context of these improved relationships that beliefs about sexuality became more positive"--Leaf 3.

In this much-needed text, leading international experts explore crucial aspects of people’s experience of long-term recovery from substance use. Centred around the voices of people who use substances, the book examines the complex and continuing needs of people who have sought to change their use of substances, investigating the ways in which personal characteristics and social and systemic factors intersect to influence the lives of people in long-term recovery. With perspectives from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Iceland and the United Kingdom, it also considers the role and needs of family members, and puts forward clear recommendations for improving future research, policy and practice.

All across the United States, individuals, families, communities, and health care systems are struggling to cope with substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders. Substance misuse and substance use disorders have devastating effects, disrupt the future plans of too many young people, and all too often, end lives prematurely and tragically. Substance misuse is a major public health challenge and a priority for our nation to address. The effects of substance use are cumulative and costly for our society, placing burdens on workplaces, the health care system, families, states, and communities. The Report discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment so that they can address a person's overall health, rather than a substance misuse or a physical health condition alone or in isolation. It also provides suggestions and recommendations for action that everyone-individuals, families, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers-can take to prevent substance misuse and reduce its consequences.

A structured open-ended interview was conducted with five long-term recovered women with at least 15 years sobriety from alcoholism. the interview addressed each woman's experience of addiction and her journey along the recovery process. the women were from 34 years to 57 years of age and their length of recovery time at the completion of the interviews was from 15 years to 20 years. the women in this study discussed what led them to seek recovery from alcoholism, their affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous, the impact of alcohol on their families, and what was and was not available to them more than fifteen years ago. Participants shared how addiction affected their personal health, their emotional well-being, their self-esteem, and their ability to manage their careers. Additionally, the women talked about where they see themselves now in relation to their addiction and how spirituality has impacted on their recovery and emotional growth. the long-term recovered women in this study shared perspectives of their experience with treatment facilities and with programs available to them at the time of their seeking help. Participants also offered opinions of how treatment modalities might be improved for women and what they would like treatment providers to know about their experience as recovering women.

Objective . The purpose of this study was to determine the meaning of personal transformation for twenty women in long term, stable recovery from alcohol abuse; to identify themes or patterns of this recovery, and; to determine the extent to which they experienced the phenomenon of perspective transformation.