Selseng Lillian Bruland, Lindeman Sari Kaarina, Reime Monika Alvestad
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
Nordisk Alkohol Nark. 2025 Apr 10:14550725251329826. doi: 10.1177/14550725251329826.
Individuals with a history of heavy drug use are especially vulnerable to losing loved ones to drug-related deaths, and drug use and complicated grief reactions are closely linked. However, limited knowledge exists on supporting them through bereavement. The present study, which was conducted in Norway, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how individuals dealing with heavy drug use and bereavement can be supported through professional support services. The bereaved person's reflections on help experiences are seen as grounded in their conduct of everyday life. We conducted qualitative interviews with individuals who have experienced bereavement in the context of heavy drug use. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we examined their stories and reflections on what was helpful and unhelpful, aiming to identify key themes, providing an understanding of how individuals dealing with heavy drug use and bereavement can be supported. Five themes were identified. The first theme, 'Support Complexity', addresses the uncertainty about strengthening the help provided for processing losses. The other themes - "The Ripple Effect of Trust and Distrust", "Offering Supportive Communication", "Fostering Tailored Support" and "Promoting Support Through Companionship" - point to the key dimensions of the support that can help strengthen responses to drug-related bereavement. The study underlies how diverse expectations, norms and positions in the help provision setting influence the nature of support, as well as the access to, acceptance of and adaption to support initiatives. Furthermore, we discuss how the support context can provide multifaceted and contextualised bereavement support tailored to the various needs of the bereaved. The study also underscores the need for provider training focused on the intersections of bereavement and drug use.
有大量吸毒史的人特别容易因与毒品相关的死亡而失去亲人，而且吸毒与复杂的悲伤反应密切相关。然而，在丧亲之痛中如何支持他们的相关知识却很有限。本研究在挪威开展，旨在全面了解如何通过专业支持服务来帮助那些有大量吸毒史且正在经历丧亲之痛的人。丧亲者对帮助经历的反思被视为基于他们的日常生活行为。我们对有大量吸毒史且经历过丧亲之痛的人进行了定性访谈。通过反思性主题分析，我们审视了他们关于哪些有帮助、哪些没有帮助的故事和反思，旨在确定关键主题，以了解如何支持那些有大量吸毒史且正在经历丧亲之痛的人。我们确定了五个主题。第一个主题“支持的复杂性”涉及在加强处理丧失之痛的帮助方面的不确定性。其他主题——“信任与不信任的连锁反应”“提供支持性沟通”“提供量身定制的支持”和“通过陪伴促进支持”——指出了有助于加强对与毒品相关丧亲之痛反应的支持的关键维度。该研究揭示了帮助提供环境中的各种期望、规范和立场如何影响支持的性质，以及对支持举措的获取、接受和适应。此外，我们讨论了支持环境如何能够根据丧亲者的各种需求提供多方面的、情境化的丧亲支持。该研究还强调了针对丧亲之痛与吸毒交叉领域的提供者培训的必要性。
