Life transformation: a meta-synthesis of recovery from alcohol addiction

Background Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that causes various negative consequences in many aspects of life. There have been many qualitative studies that explore recovery from alcohol addiction. The aim of this study was to synthesize the findings of qualitative studies to provide an in-depth understanding of recovery from alcohol addiction. Methods After searching through four English databases and three Korean databases, we analyzed 29 qualitative studies on recovery experiences of 411 individuals with alcohol addiction. The selected studies were analyzed through a meta-synthesis method, proposed by Butler et al. Results Our meta-synthesis identified four phases of the recovery process: the decision-making phase, in which the individual decides to quit drinking; the taking-action phase, in which the individual makes mistakes in the process of implementing change; the living-sober phase, in which sobriety begins; and the deepening-extension phase, in which the new self is integrated into society. The main theme derived from the meta-synthesis was 'life transformation: starting over with a new approach'. The protective factors and the obstacles at each phase were also derived. Conclusions The results of the study can be useful for addiction practitioners to determine at which stage of recovery people with alcohol addiction are and to help them move on to the next phase using practical, evidence-informed strategies.