Identity transformation in drug addiction

This research addresses existing gaps in the sociology of deviance and in sociological social psychology concepts of identity and identity transformation processes by exploring identity composition and transformation during careers in and out of drug use and addiction. The focus is on the relationship between drug abuse and identity through both micro, i.e. self-concept, level of personal satisfaction and personal control and macro phenomena, i.e. social appraisal, social climate and popularity of drugs. The research questions are exploratory. Currently sober drug addicts are studied in an attempt to explore if and how identity transformation occurs during the movement into and out of deviance and what factors are involved in doing so. A qualitative approach is employed, featuring intensive interviewing with a purposive sample of currently abstinent drug addicts from the 12 Step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The findings indicate that drug use initially alleviated respondents' existing identity discomfort that arose from a myriad of mostly micro, yet some macro factors, but that these effects were temporary. The findings also indicate that the passage out of deviance is possible and involves some of the same factors included in the passage into deviance. Important differences are, however, apparent. Finally, the findings indicate that identity transformation often results from passages into and out of deviance, but is not simultaneous with either passage and is differentially experienced by the respondents. These findings contribute to the extant theoretical gaps.