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Journals / HUMANITAS - Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 14 Sayı: 28

THE POSITION OF EX-USERS AS A RECOVERY CAPITAL IN ADDICTION: "HEALING WHILE HEALING OTHERS"

BAĞIMLILIKTA BİR İYİLEŞME SERMAYESİ OLARAK ESKİ MADDE KULLANICILARININ KONUMU: “İYİLEŞİRKEN İYİLEŞTİRMEK”

Hakan Karaman(BARTIN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5729-6012
Pages
295–311
Publication Date
2026-10-14
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Research findings indicate that ex-users operate on the philosophy of "healing while healing others," effectively preserving their own sobriety through the act of assisting others.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Contemporary addiction treatment is moving beyond acute care models.
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Key Findings & Data:In this regard, the literature confirms that treatment models incorporating ex-users as recovery counselors yield more effective results.
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Conclusion & Impact:Research findings indicate that ex-users operate on the philosophy of "healing while healing others," effectively preserving their own sobriety through the act of assisting others.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bağımlılık · Bağımlılık Tedavisi · Eski Kullanıcı

Abstract

Contemporary addiction treatment is moving beyond acute care models. In this shift, recovery counselor support is gaining greater significance by promoting treatment engagement and sustainable recovery. In this regard, the literature confirms that treatment models incorporating ex-users as recovery counselors yield more effective results. Motivated by the distinct gap in the Turkish literature on this subject, this research was conducted to examine peer recovery support as it exists in practice. Designed in accordance with a qualitative research framework, this study was conducted with a total of 12 male participants, drawing on the experiences of five ex-users serving as recovery counselors within the treatment ecosystem in Türkiye, and seven substance users currently undergoing active treatment. Research findings indicate that ex-users operate on the philosophy of "healing while healing others," effectively preserving their own sobriety through the act of assisting others. By filling the gaps that professionals either cannot reach or struggle to reach during the therapeutic process, ex-users perform unique practical functions such as providing hope for recovery and serving as role models, establishing profound empathy, catching lies and manipulation, detecting crises early, and offering uninterrupted guidance. On the other hand, this experiential expertise entails various risks, including the fear of traumatization and craving, over-identification with clients, and boundary violations. Consequently, the experiential knowledge possessed by ex-users, who serve as strategic recovery actors in breaking the cycle of addiction, is interpreted as a powerful tool that enhances recovery success and complements the work of professionals. Furthermore, given the challenges encountered, it is recommended that peer recovery counselors be integrated into treatment models as professionals safeguarded by continuous supervision and institutional support mechanisms.

Özet

Günümüzde bağımlılık tedavisine ilişkin yaklaşımlarda akut bakım modellerinin ötesine geçilerek tedaviye katılımı ve sürdürülebilir iyileşmeyi destekleyen akran iyileşme danışmanlığı daha fazla önem kazanmaktadır. Bu yöndeki literatür, eski kullanıcı bireylerin iyileşme danışmanı olarak yer aldığı tedavi modellerinin daha etkili sonuçlar verdiğini ifade etmektedir. Bu araştırma, Türkiye alanyazında konuya ilişkin belirgin boşluktan hareketle pratikte var olan akran iyileşme desteğini ele almaktadır. Nitel araştırma desenine göre kurgulanan bu çalışma, Türkiye’deki tedavi ekosisteminde iyileşme danışmanı olarak yer alan beş eski madde kullanıcısı ve aktif tedaviye devam eden yedi madde kullanıcısının deneyimlerine dayalı olarak 12 erkek katılımcıyla yürütülmüştür. Araştırma bulguları, eski kullanıcıların "iyileşirken iyileştirme" felsefesiyle hareket ederek, başkalarına yardım etme aracılığıyla aslında kendi ayıklıklarını koruduklarını göstermektedir. Eski kullanıcılar sağaltım sürecinde profesyonellerin erişemediği veya erişmekte zorlandıkları alanları doldurarak iyileşme umudu sağlama ve rol model olma, derin empati kurma, yalan ve manipülasyonu yakalama, krizleri erken fark etme ve kesintisiz rehberlik sağlama gibi özgün pratik işlevler sergilemektedir. Diğer yandan bu deneyimsel uzmanlık tetiklenme ve aşerme korkusu, aşırı özdeşim kurma ve sınır ihlalleri gibi çeşitli riskleri de beraberinde getirmektedir. Sonuç olarak, bağımlılık döngüsünü kırmada stratejik iyileşme aktörü olan eski kullanıcıların sahip olduğu bu yaşantısal tecrübe, iyileşme başarısını artıran ve profesyonelleri tamamlayıcı, güçlü bir araç olarak yorumlanmaktadır. Bunun yanında karşılaşılan zorluklar göz önüne alındığında, akran iyileşme danışmanlarının tedavi modellerine süpervizyon ve kurumsal destek mekanizmalarıyla korunan entegre profesyoneller olarak dahil edilmeleri önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Karaman, H. (2026). THE POSITION OF EX-USERS AS A RECOVERY CAPITAL IN ADDICTION: "HEALING WHILE HEALING OTHERS". HUMANITAS - Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 28, 295–311. https://doi.org/10.20304/humanitas.1971466

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