Stacey Smith
Since 2000 Stacey has significant experience in the sector, spanning drug education, treatment, therapeutic interventions, volunteer and peer support, training and workforce development. This was recently consolidated by completion of an MSc with Distinction in Mental Health and Substance Misuse.
Her qualitative study explores the transitions of people with lived experience of addiction, from accessing
services to working in them. Following successful submission of a research proposal focusing on the integration of lived and living experience into the workforce, she has been offered a PhD at the University of Birmingham which she hopes to begin pending funding this year. Stacey currently offers training and consultancy in substance use and mental health and is pursuing opportunities as an early career researcher.
Session
This talk will highlight the themes and findings from a study examining the experiences of individuals in the UK who have transitioned from accessing support to working within treatment and recovery services. Utilising a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and data was analysed thematically. Findings align with the UK's "From Harm to Hope" drug strategy and the NHS treatment and recovery workforce strategic plan, offering insights to enhance social justice within drug policy by valuing lived experience and addressing systemic challenges.
Key Themes Explored:
1. Motivations 2. Benefits 3. Challenges 4. Improvements
Key Findings:
• A strong motivation to help others and the reciprocal benefits of peer work were evident.
• Opportunities in employment and career changes were seen as significant contributors to recovery capital, reinforcing personal recovery journeys.
• Participants highlighted the importance of key moments and individuals in their journey, while also noting the persistence of in-sector stigma, workplace stigma, and gender-specific stigma.
Recommendations:
1. Increase Employment as Recovery Capital: Enhance job opportunities that contribute to recovery.
2. Offer Continued Professional Development: Provide training to boost self-belief and personal value.
3. Instil Professional Boundaries: Ensure clear guidelines to maintain professionalism in new roles.
4. Harness Motivation for Reciprocal Therapeutic Relationships: Leverage the mutual benefits of peer support at all stages of treatment and recovery.
5. Combat Stigma: Continue efforts to reduce societal and sector-specific stigma.