Background: Substance abuse is a widely spread social problem that has consequences for mental health, physical health, economics and relationships. Substance abuse involves the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and/or medicine. In Sweden there are about 880 000-900 000 people who have an ongoing substance abuse. There are recommendations for addiction treatment and for these to be followed collaboration between the health care, psychiatry, primary care and social services is important. There is need for increased competence and education to improve treatment. Treatment should be adapted based on person centered care.
Aim: The aim was to describe personal and surrounding prerequisites for recovery in substance abuse in Sweden.
Method: The method was a literature review. Both quantitative and qualitative research were used, ten articles were selected. The analysis was based on Fribergs (2017) three-step model.
Results: Three main categories were found, the unique person, worthy life and care and treatment as well as seven subcategories, the importance of insight, the value of relationships, emotional impact, meaningful occupation, the security of a home, structure as support and the importance of professionals. These categories described prerequisites for recovery in substance abuse.
Conclusion: Factors of success in recovery were rarely isolated, they consisted of an interaction between different factors in a person's life. Important prerequisites were a supportive social network, the own will as well as regular and structured treatment. Substance abuse implies a complex set of problems, often with multiple problems. This complexity sometimes made it difficult for professionals to treat these people.