The influence of lived experience with addiction and recovery on practice-related decisions among professionals working in addiction agencies serving women

Aims: The study objectives were to: (1) understand the value attributed to the lived experience of addiction and recovery among professionals working in addiction agencies serving women in Canada and (2) describe how lived experience influence practice-related decision-making. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with a purposeful sample of 26 addiction professionals from 24 addiction agencies. Subsequently, a secondary analysis was conducted to identify data that would provide greater insight into issues related to the use of lived experience in decision-making. Findings: Participants who either described their personal history of addiction or discussed the influence of others’ lived experience on decisions made within the agency indicated that: (1) some professionals perceive lived experience and research evidence as two dichotomous concepts, viewing lived experience as more credible than research evidence; (2) personal experience with a particular treatment can guide treatment decisions; (3) strong adherence to only one source of evidence leads to intra-organizational conflict and (4) different sources of evidence in decision-making need to be acknowledged to inform practice. Conclusion: The addiction field can benefit from increased understanding of decision-making as a multifaceted process involving different sources of evidence, including addiction professionals’ lived experiences of addiction and recovery.