The person behind the addiction disorder : A litterature study on people with substance use disorder- and their experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals within healthcar

Background: People with substance use disorder often face stigma and discrimination within thehealthcare system, which can create barriers to seeking care and thereby lead to poorer healthoutcomes. Previous research indicate that healthcare professionals often lack sufficient knowledgeabout substance use, which negatively affects the care encounter. To improve these interactions, adeeper understanding is required of how individuals with substance use disorder experience encounterswith healthcare professionals. Aim: The aim was to describe experiences of encounters with healthcareprofessionals among people with substance use disorder. Method: A general literature review wasconducted, including eleven original articles. The articles were analyzed using qualitative contentanalysis with an inductive approach. Results: The analysis resulted in three main categories: OffensiveEncounters, Lack of Knowledge About Substance Use, and The Importance of the Care Encounter, alongwith six related subcategories. The findings show that individuals with substance use disorder oftenexperience distrust, lack of understanding and demeaning interactions in healthcare settings. However,compassionate and affirming encounters can promote health. Conclusion: Healthcare professionalsneed education on substance use disorder in order to meet the care needs of people with substance usedisorder. The results indicate that further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of howhealthcare can implement health-promoting factors and prevent the barriers that lead to avoidance ofcare and neglect of health needs among people with substance use disorder.