Psychosocial Intervention in European Addictive Behaviour Recovery Programmes: A Qualitative Study

Background: The vulnerability of drug users in treatment increases their risk of social exclusion. Psychosocial interventions aim to solve or minimise this risk, increasing social integration for individuals in treatment. In this study, the effectiveness of various European drug recovery programmes was studied by examining psychosocial intervention groups with vulnerable populations. Methods: Research was conducted utilising qualitative methodology in the following manner: bibliographical review (reports and papers) and 18 interviews with key informants (from nine European countries). Results: Treatment programmes were found to be effective for recovery from opiate use, however, social recovery programmes were not found to be effective. For females in treatment and young drug users, the adequacy of programmes received medium-to-low evaluations. Conclusion: It is necessary to increase the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention in recovery-based programmes. In addition, the relevance of these programmes in relation to psychosocial characteristics of the various risk groups (except opioid consumers) should be validated and revisited. Additionally, psychosocial intervention professionals should take a more active role in such programmes, especially in intervention with young people (in health education, prevention, early detection, and intervention) and with women (in regard to the detection and effective intervention for socio-health problems, social and job reintegration, access inequality, and use of services available due to gender).