Enablers and inhibitors to quality of life as experienced by substance abusers discharged from a rehabilitation centre in Gauteng, South Africa

INTRODUCTION: The impact of substance-related and addictive disorders is a serious health problem affecting society. Occupational therapy intervention for people with substance-related disorders is ultimately directed at enhancing the quality of life. This article aims to present participants' experiences regarding their quality of life on their journey to sobriety. METHODS: A qualitative study, where an exploration of participants' perceptions and description thereof was used to gain insight into participants' experiences of their quality of life after discharge from a rehabilitation centre. Individual, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from a purposive sample of 20 participants. The interviews were based on the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life: A Direct Weighting Procedure for Quality-of-Life Domains (SEIQoL - DW). Data collected were analysed using thematic content analysis. FINDINGS: Two themes, namely (1) "enablers of quality of life", and (2) "quality of life inhibitors", emerged from the interviews. The participants described the enablers of quality of life as employment, education, support, parenting and leisure; while emotions experienced, family breakdown, harmful behaviours and socioeconomic status were described as the inhibitors of quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Engagement in occupations is important for the substance user to enhance their quality of life. Occupation-based occupational therapy intervention is therefore crucial in enhancing quality of life, particularly in the life of a substance user whose lifelong journey to sobriety is challenged daily by the barriers they encounter.