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  • Publication
    ALCOHOLISM & SUBSTANCE ADDICTION: UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE EMIRATI FAMILY
    Substance misuse and alcoholism is a globally rising issue that is affecting all societies, including the Emirati society. This research investigates the effects of the experience of having a family member that is suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism in the Emirati family to better understand the family’s experience, the process of stigmatization and labeling in the Emirati context. The qualitative method of in-depth, semi-structured interviews was employed to study the subject. Seven Emirati individuals who are related to a person suffering from substance addiction and alcoholism were interviewed and asked open-ended questions concerning their experience with addiction, their family relationships, their self-perception, and their management of their identities. Based on the thematic analysis of the interviews, four themes emerged: the deviant’s career, the family relationships, the perception of deviance, and the management of the spoiled identity. Amongst the population of the study, the majority of the participants experienced feelings of shock and fear when learning of the addiction, while the majority of familial relationships of the families were positively impacted by their situation, while managing their identities through different mechanisms when interacting with different individuals from the society.