A Qualitative Inquiry on Problematic Music in the Lives of Rehabilitated Substance Abusers: From Past-to-Present

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Abstract

This phenomenological study explores how individuals in long-term recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) cope with problematic music (PM). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 people in sustained recovery after attending treatment centers. Thematic analysis identified three distinct groups. The alternative group received no guidance on music consumption, experiencing three phases: recognizing and avoiding PM’s, adopting alternative music genres, and currently remaining susceptible to PM while exclusively listening to alternative genres. The ambivalent group were told regarding PM’s dangers and went through two phases: informed regarding the danger and avoiding PM, followed by developing ambivalence toward PM. The tolerant group participated in group music therapy, undergoing four phases: recognizing PM’s danger, avoiding PM and adopting alternative genres, developing tolerance by forming new associations with PM, and maintaining this tolerance during recovery. The study highlights the importance of music therapy in addressing musical triggers and supporting sustained recovery in individuals with SUD.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Early online date20 Nov 2025
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - 20 Nov 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025

Keywords

  • long-term recovery
  • music therapy
  • problematic music
  • qualitative study
  • substance use disorders

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