Introduction: The psychoactive substance addiction often leads to change in identity and the formation of the "user self". During recovery this "user self" or the "spoiled identity" (as Goffman described it) transforms into the identity of recovery. Due to the novel symptoms of synthetic cannabinoid products (SCPs), a new type of psychoactive substances and the lack of previous research the identity work of SCPs users is unpredictable. The aim of this study was to examine how the users of SCPs interpret their experiences delivered from SCPs consumption and how do they perceive the identity, for this we assessed the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).
Method: Based on the method of IPA a purposive sample was recruited, including 6 males (their age was between 20 and 27) who were self-identified SCPs users. They had been using the drug for 2-6 years, and before the analysis they were abstinent for at least one month. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using IPA.
Results: During the analysis two master themes emerged; 1. The impact of SCPs use experience on self and identity formation, and 2. The transformed self and the user self.
Conclusions: the experiences of SCPs users can be compared with some specificities of traumatic experience; therefore, the experience of SCPs use may be treated as a particular type of trauma. As a result, the resources of SC users to change their self and construct a new non-addict identity are limited, which may mean a significant obstacle in recovery. Hence, treatment should focus on identity work more emphatically.