Temporal orientation and self-experience of Narcotics Anonymous

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyse temporal orientation and its relationship with self-experience in drug dependent persons from Narcotics Anonymous (NA) community. The relationship between the dimensions of psychopathological self, temporal perspective and between sociodemographic variables and involvement in NA actions was examined.

Material and methods: We investigated 30 persons (10 women, 20 men) from NA. The average age was 33.6, presence in NA – 66.1 months, duration of abstinence – 53.3 months. We applied the questionnaires: Time perception, “Carpe Diem”, Ego-Psychopathology and a sociodemographic question¬ naire.

Results: Higher levels of education favour a positive perception of the past. The involvement (or not) in NA activities differentiates the study group in the measured psychological variables (temporal perspective and dimensions of psychopathological self). The persons who have a sponsor show less negative attitude towards the past. Those on service for NA have a greater sense of self-consistency and are less focused on the negative past. Those who act as a sponsor exhibit greater sense of self-consistency and self-identity, in the perception of the present are characterised by lower fatalism. The present hedonistic perspective is a dominant temporal orientation and is associated with a worse sense of self-vitality, self-activity and self-consistency in the whole examined group. The present fatalistic perspective coincides with a weaker self-identity while the past negative perspective with a weaker sense of self-consistency.

Conclusions: The results might be important in the treatment of drug dependent persons. It should be focused on weakening the negative past and present fatalistic perspective, motivating addicts to engage in NA as well as enhancing future and “Carpe Diem” perspectives.