La méthadone permet-elle de sortir du monde de la drogue? : points de vue de personnes inscrites aux programmes de substitution
Two paradigms are frequent when treating addiction in Quebec. First, there is the paradigm of abstinence with an intervention model often based on Alcoholics Anonymous. With this model, alcoholism (or addiction) is defined as a disease. The second paradigm, harm reduction, is aimed to reduce the harmful effects of drug use rather than eliminating their use (Brisson, 1997). We are particularly interested in an intervention found in this paradigm named methadone maintenance treatment. This research was aimed to identify the perceptions of people enrolled in this treatment, understand their recovery process while participation in this treatment and understanding the perceptions of users of methadone in regards to the consequences of addiction. A theoretical framework found in the symbolic interactionist perspective was selected. More specifically, the process of normative transformations of Maria Caiata Zufferey, the labelling theory of Howard Becker and the stigma theory of Erving Goffman were selected. A qualitative methodology was retained. Ten semi-structured interviews with men and women enrolled in a methadone maintenance treatment were conducted. The chapter that focussed on the results highlighted various reports on how methadone maintenance treatment was experienced by the participants. To do this, three figures constructed using typology analysis were developed. For some people, methadone was described as a necessary substitute, for others, it corresponded to a help that they wanted to eliminate and for a minority, it aroused ambivalence. One thing is certain, although the substitution remains the treatment of choice for opioid dependence, it is difficult to speak of the output of the drug world with the help of methadone because this treatment appears to be almost as stigmatized as the dependence on heroine (Lauzon, 2011). At first glance, the use of methadone can help distance a person from the world of drugs (easy money, theft, prostitution) and can help rebuild their lives on a basis of landmark stability, but to carefully consider, it confines the respondents in a state of ambivalence as it relates to the identity of an addict. Keywords : harm reduction, methadone maintenance treatment, perception, participant, stigma, dependency.
Perception Participant Harm reduction Methadone maintenance treatment Perception Participant Stigma Dependency