A Grounded Theory of the Process of Healing From Opioid Addiction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that opioids are involved in almost 71% of all drug overdose deaths. Although there is increased attention on the lethal potential of opioid addiction, narratives about healing, wherein people have sustained long-term health and well-being from opioid addiction, are few. Our purpose with this study was to develop a biopsychosocial understanding of how people heal from opioid addiction, not only maintain abstinence. The Theory of Healing from Opioid Addiction yielded five categories, 15 themes, and seven subthemes. Results showed four phases of healing (i.e., Inactive Healing, Early Active Healing, Middle Active Healing, and Late Active Healing), four Continuous Core Components of healing (i.e., 12-Step Programs, Psychotherapy, Spirituality, and Relationships with Others), and 15 themes ranging from Substance Use Treatment to Effectively Processing Trauma to Self-Love. Participants’ ( N = 11) healing journey began during opioid addiction itself and continued through to the last phase of healing, wherein participants had transformed their lives and concretized a sense of personal empowerment.