(Male, 25, desisted for 2 years)As mentioned in the former phase (replacement self), the respondents see themselves in their new role before Ixazomib mw they are actually transformed. Since they are very realistic about their future, taking into account that a former drug user should never consider him/herself to be completely ��recovered;�� therefore, they do not call themselves recovered persons successfully reached the end of the recovery process, but rather recovering persons, indicating they consider recovery as an ongoing process.Yes, it is always difficult. Both physically and mentally. Every day I am tempted. I won’t say ��I’m clean and this is for the rest of my life��. It’s like alcoholics. I am clean today, but we’ll see about tomorrow��. For now I am ok. You have to live from day to day, especially with heroin.

(Male, 38, desisted for 1 year)Although former drug-using offenders are oriented towards the future, they are still to some extent contemplating their past because it is a very important aspect of their recovery process. They consider their past as a kind of life experience, a period that made them think about the direction of their lives and made them want to focus on other goals.I have lost a lot of money and I hurt a lot of people who loved me without even realizing because I was so tangled up in the drug scene�� I know that you should look ahead and not backwards, but it will always be a part of my luggage. (Male, 34, desisted for 2 years)The respondents also indicate that they continue to fight a labeling process. During their drug using period, they were somebody else: a junk, a criminal.

Now that they are recovering, they become themselves again, ��the clean person.�� A difficult obstacle however is that society needs to accept them as a clean person (again) and needs to accept the new roles they are willing to take. This is not always evident. Therefore, some respondents want to move to another city where they can make a fresh start.I’ve changed for myself. I want to be part of a group of clean people. I don’t want to be the outsider�� the user��the junk�� Although they still look and point at me ��Look there, a junk!��. That label will last forever�� until my death. (Male, 37, desisted for 4 years)3.6. Behavioural ChangeEntering new social environments and (re)establishing social bonds, as well as avoiding or breaking contact with previous networks, is denominated an important element in desistance.

To sustain recovery from drug use, most respondents identified that they had to break with a drug-using partner or drug-using friends. They prefer to start a quest for (drug-free) bonds who could support them in a life free of drug use, and consequently, of crime.I left it behind me. I Brefeldin_A broke up contact with everyone (former friends). Otherwise, they would say: Come on X., it would not do you any harm.