Experiences of addiction, treatment and recovery: An online resource for members of the public, health professionals and policymakers

July 2014
Staff: 

NDRI: Associate Professor Suzanne Fraser, Professor David Moore, Dr Kiran Pienaar 

Other investigators: 

Associate Professor Renata Kokanovic, School of Social Sciences, Monash University
Professor Carla Treloar, Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales
Associate Professor Adrian Dunlop, Hunter New England Area Health Service

Project description: 

This project is the first of its kind in Australia and around the world. Funded by the Australian Research Council, it will generate much-needed new insights into the range of experiences that make up life for people who consider themselves to have an addiction. Questions to be investigated include:

  • How do people manage this aspect of their lives?
  • What does addiction mean to them?
  • How do they cope with the stigma associated with addiction?
  • What kind of help do they seek, where necessary? 
  • What resources are important to them?

Applying a proven qualitative methodology developed by the Oxford University Health Experiences Research Group (HERG), it will collect and analyse the personal accounts of people who describe themselves as having an addiction, and present these accounts in textual, audio and re-enacted video form on a publicly accessible website.

Modelled on the award-winning UK website www.healthtalkonline.org (HTO), this ground breaking Australia-specific resource will provide otherwise inaccessible information to those affected by addiction, health professionals and the general public. It will directly benefit affected individuals, their family and friends, and the Australian community, and aid in training and support for health professionals and policymakers.

For more about this project: Go to the NDRI website.