The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines stigma as an “attribute that is deeply discrediting…the trait sets the bearer apart from the rest of society, bringing with it feelings of shame and isolation.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines stigma as an “attribute that is deeply discrediting…the trait sets the bearer apart from the rest of society, bringing with it feelings of shame and isolation.”
l
It is hypothesized that two pathways may help:
This study by renowned addiction researcher David Best describes an organization in Blackpool, England, called “Jobs, Friends & Houses”, intended both to:
“Jobs, Friends & Houses” (also called JFH) builds and renovates property, that is then available for sale or rent by those working on the properties. Ultimately JFH also aims to link its employees with building apprenticeships, thereby providing them with skills for obtaining and maintaining employment. Founded by a local, long-time police officer and a person in long-term recovery, JFH is intentionally visible, with branding on t-shirts and company vehicles.
This study used individual and focus group interviews with 7 members of a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) team to begin to explore the following questions:
The study described an organization employing only individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or ex-offenders that became well known in the community in which they worked. This, in part, was accomplished through the creation and dissemination of a specific brand (e.g., using a logo). In general, members reported feeling they were providing a meaningful service to the community.
The study also described a specific event where, near a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) work site, there was a serious domestic violence incident. Members of the JFH team, and one in particular (the “unlikely hero” mentioned in the title of the article), intervened until the police could arrive. The article describes the positive reaction to JFH by the local police and other community members, specifically regarding pro-social actions of the members during the well-publicized domestic violence incident.
Several prior RRI monthly Bulletin articles have highlighted the stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD):
While more research is needed on JFH and organizations like it, it is possible that group members may also experience increased self-esteem – which could reinforce their recovery efforts – because they are participating in a productive activity that benefits the community.
An organization that provides a key service to the community in a highly visible way, and is known to employ individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), such as Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), may be an innovative approach to enhancing the recovery social identities of its members while reducing the collective stigma of addiction in the community.
Along with other recent studies highlighted by the RRI (see here, for example), this study focused on Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), highlights the potentially key role of social identity change in the recovery process. Clinicians may wish to explore and process their patients’ identities as related to their addiction and recovery, in the service of helping build recovery capital, and sustaining recovery over time.
While this study constitutes an important first step to describe the Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) program, future quantitative and qualitative studies are needed to understand the impact of the program on its members and attitudes of other individuals in the community.
l
It is hypothesized that two pathways may help:
This study by renowned addiction researcher David Best describes an organization in Blackpool, England, called “Jobs, Friends & Houses”, intended both to:
“Jobs, Friends & Houses” (also called JFH) builds and renovates property, that is then available for sale or rent by those working on the properties. Ultimately JFH also aims to link its employees with building apprenticeships, thereby providing them with skills for obtaining and maintaining employment. Founded by a local, long-time police officer and a person in long-term recovery, JFH is intentionally visible, with branding on t-shirts and company vehicles.
This study used individual and focus group interviews with 7 members of a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) team to begin to explore the following questions:
The study described an organization employing only individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or ex-offenders that became well known in the community in which they worked. This, in part, was accomplished through the creation and dissemination of a specific brand (e.g., using a logo). In general, members reported feeling they were providing a meaningful service to the community.
The study also described a specific event where, near a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) work site, there was a serious domestic violence incident. Members of the JFH team, and one in particular (the “unlikely hero” mentioned in the title of the article), intervened until the police could arrive. The article describes the positive reaction to JFH by the local police and other community members, specifically regarding pro-social actions of the members during the well-publicized domestic violence incident.
Several prior RRI monthly Bulletin articles have highlighted the stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD):
While more research is needed on JFH and organizations like it, it is possible that group members may also experience increased self-esteem – which could reinforce their recovery efforts – because they are participating in a productive activity that benefits the community.
An organization that provides a key service to the community in a highly visible way, and is known to employ individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), such as Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), may be an innovative approach to enhancing the recovery social identities of its members while reducing the collective stigma of addiction in the community.
Along with other recent studies highlighted by the RRI (see here, for example), this study focused on Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), highlights the potentially key role of social identity change in the recovery process. Clinicians may wish to explore and process their patients’ identities as related to their addiction and recovery, in the service of helping build recovery capital, and sustaining recovery over time.
While this study constitutes an important first step to describe the Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) program, future quantitative and qualitative studies are needed to understand the impact of the program on its members and attitudes of other individuals in the community.
l
It is hypothesized that two pathways may help:
This study by renowned addiction researcher David Best describes an organization in Blackpool, England, called “Jobs, Friends & Houses”, intended both to:
“Jobs, Friends & Houses” (also called JFH) builds and renovates property, that is then available for sale or rent by those working on the properties. Ultimately JFH also aims to link its employees with building apprenticeships, thereby providing them with skills for obtaining and maintaining employment. Founded by a local, long-time police officer and a person in long-term recovery, JFH is intentionally visible, with branding on t-shirts and company vehicles.
This study used individual and focus group interviews with 7 members of a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) team to begin to explore the following questions:
The study described an organization employing only individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or ex-offenders that became well known in the community in which they worked. This, in part, was accomplished through the creation and dissemination of a specific brand (e.g., using a logo). In general, members reported feeling they were providing a meaningful service to the community.
The study also described a specific event where, near a Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) work site, there was a serious domestic violence incident. Members of the JFH team, and one in particular (the “unlikely hero” mentioned in the title of the article), intervened until the police could arrive. The article describes the positive reaction to JFH by the local police and other community members, specifically regarding pro-social actions of the members during the well-publicized domestic violence incident.
Several prior RRI monthly Bulletin articles have highlighted the stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD):
While more research is needed on JFH and organizations like it, it is possible that group members may also experience increased self-esteem – which could reinforce their recovery efforts – because they are participating in a productive activity that benefits the community.
An organization that provides a key service to the community in a highly visible way, and is known to employ individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), such as Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), may be an innovative approach to enhancing the recovery social identities of its members while reducing the collective stigma of addiction in the community.
Along with other recent studies highlighted by the RRI (see here, for example), this study focused on Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH), highlights the potentially key role of social identity change in the recovery process. Clinicians may wish to explore and process their patients’ identities as related to their addiction and recovery, in the service of helping build recovery capital, and sustaining recovery over time.
While this study constitutes an important first step to describe the Jobs, Friends & Houses (JFH) program, future quantitative and qualitative studies are needed to understand the impact of the program on its members and attitudes of other individuals in the community.
SIGN UP FOR THE BULLETIN
