ADDICTION
IN THE LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE
—
entry and exit processes
A
thematic meeting of the Kettil Bruun Society for Social and Epidemiological
15–19
October 2002, Stockholm, Sweden
We are far from a full understanding about which people
become addicted and the processes responsible for this. Even though we know that
certain cultural, social, individual, and biological factors may predispose a
person to addictive behaviors, many people with similar risk factors never
develop a dependence.
The complex web of influences that may guide people out
of their addictions is even less well understood. Certain factors have been
shown to facilitate the change, yet at the same time many individuals with an
excellent prognosis still seem to fail in their efforts to recover. What factors
or experiences contribute to these highly variable developmental trajectories
are still largely unknown.
Thus far, research
has generally focused on either of these two ends of the addiction process, but
seldom has tried to connect them. Biographical
research, however, points to the necessity to also consider this connection.
Consequently, the aim of this thematic meeting of the
Kettil Bruun Society is to examine addictive
behaviors from the life course perspective. We are interested in both
objective factors and subjective experiences that predispose or pave the way for
addictive behaviors, as well as
factors and experiences facilitating recovery from addiction. The main focus
will be on alcohol and drug addictions, but studies dealing with other “excessive
appetites” are also welcome.
This meeting continues the KBS research tradition on
the natural history of addictive behaviors. The focus here would be broader than
in our previous meetings in the sense that both entry and exit processes are
included. Yet it would also be more specific in the sense that we are interested
in certain lines of research in this area. Particularly relevant for this
meeting would, therefore, be the following basic themes or lines of research:
First, we would like to welcome both qualitative and
quantitative studies based on the biographical
and life history approach to the development of addictive behaviors. In
addition to the more traditional search for discrete and interacting causal
factors contributing to the initiation of addictive behaviors, we are also
interested in narrative accounts on this issue. After all, human destinies may
to a large extent depend on the narrative and interpretative capacities of
individuals and groups. New avenues for understanding addiction could,
therefore, be opened up by such
qualitative studies.
Once established, addiction may take different courses.
In some cases the developmental course of addiction spirals down at an ever
faster rate, in other cases the condition seems to fluctuate or stay more or
less stable, and in still others, people seem to recover, sometimes even without
trying. How can we explain and make sense of the different developmental trajectories in addictive behaviors, is
another topic relevant for this meeting.
Thirdly, even though heavy use of psychoactive
substances may inflict close to permanent changes in the central nervous system
of addicted individuals, some of them, nevertheless, manage to quit either with
or without treatment. What renders these changes possible? Both qualitative and
quantitative studies on the ways out of
addictive behaviors and factors contributing to recovery are, therefore,
also welcome.
The answers we get to our questions about what
contributes to and guides people out of addiction are dependent upon how we
define the very concept of addiction. In addition, we know that prevailing
popular and scientific images may partly serve as self-fulfilling prophecies,
both in involving people further in the addictive cycle and in helping them to
find a path out. Since these conceptions differ over times and places, our
understanding of the phenomena we are interested in, and our ways of
interpreting research results need to be put into the perspective of these
broader, social-historical realities. For this reason we also welcome studies
dealing with the conceptual basis of
addiction and its historical development.
We hope to be able to publish papers (and results) from
the meeting in a publication in 2003.
Call
for papers
All participants are expected to prepare an informative
abstract (maximum 200 words) proposing a paper to be presented and discussed at
the conference. The abstract should be submitted by April
30, 2002 together with the registration form. Participation at the
conference is limited and preference will be given to abstracts that are most
central to themes of the conference.
Acceptance of papers and attendance, together with
further information about payment, hotel reservations and social program around
the conference, will be sent by the
end of June 2002.
To maximize time at the conference for discussion,
papers will be precirculated on a website for conference participants prior to
the conference. Accepted papers are due by the end of August 2002. At the same time the conference fee of Euro 285
(approximately 250 US $) should be paid.
The fee includes lodging and partial board (breakfasts,
coffees and lunches) during the conference. Scholars without access to
institutional resources may apply for support to attend the meeting. To apply
for such support, send a request with a budget of total estimated expenses
specifying the portion for which support is requested, by April 30, 2002.
Please
send your registration forms, abstracts etc. to:
Nordic
Council for Alcohol and Drug Research (NAD)
Annankatu 29 A 23, FIN-00100 Helsinki, Finland
Fax:
+358 9 694 90 81, e-mail: nads@kaapeli.fi
OR
use the registration form at NAD:s homepage www.kaapeli.fi/nad
Conference
site
(Please note that the conference site has changed!) Organizers The conference will be hosted by the Nordic Council for
Alcohol and Drug Research (NAD), Helsinki. Information on NAD can be found on www.kaapeli.fi/nad. The conference is a thematic meeting of the Kettil
Bruun Society for Social and Epidemiological Research on Alcohol. Further information can be obtained from the local
organizing committee: Anja
Koski-Jännes E-mail: anja.koski-jannes@uku.fi,
anja.koski-jannes@a-klinikka.fi Jan
Blomqvist E-mail: jan.blomqvist@sot.stockholm.se
The
conference will be held in a former prison, today a nicely renovated conference
center called the Långholmen Hotel and Conference Center in Stockholm, Sweden.
Additional information can be found on www.langholmen.com.
Department of Social Sciences
University of Kuopio
FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
Research & Development (FoU)
Social Services Administration
SE-106 64 Stockholm, Sweden
Leif
Öjesjö
Department of Clinical Neuroscience
Magnus Huss Clinic, Karolinska Institute
SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
E-mail: leif.ojesjo@stockholm.bonet.se
Pia
Rosenqvist
Nordic Council for Alcohol and Drug Research (NAD)
Annankatu 29 A 23
FIN-00100 Helsinki, Finland
E-mail: pia@kaapeli.fi