Abstract
Psychoactive substance addicts usually belong to a drug sub-culture which runs counter to the prevailing culture. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is considered as a sub-culture of recovery bridging the drug sub-culture and the prevailing culture. Based on a phenomenological study of NA in Israel, certain components of the recovery sub-culture are described: sobriety as an innovation; recovery as a basis for value systems and behavioral norms; the language and rituals of recovery; social situations, role definitions and actions related to recovery. It is argued that NA, as a sub-culture of recovery, serves both as a bridge to society as a whole, and also as a shield from its influence. Since the study was conducted in Israel, it implies the inter-cultural attribute of NA's values, significance and methods.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 179-197 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Offender Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 10 Jun 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:inmate, his expected role was to comply with criminal norms. The way of NA, however, is different: I. became an innovator, supported by the NA program and fellowship. He formed NA groups in his prison, cstablished “clean cells,” and cooperated with the prison authorities. After constant struggles, he managed to win the approval of the prison authorities and inmates alike, and eventually spread his message of recovery in other jails.