12 June 2019
Researchers:
Dr Rachel Herring, Dr Helen Gleeson, Mariana Bayley, Middlesex University
Key findings
- Most participants in this study sought help for problematic drinking only after experiencing significant health problems or other negative life events (e.g. homelessness).
- Late presentation to treatment was linked to Polish culture that normalises drinking and a sense that individuals should be able to control their drinking without outside help.
- Gender differences were evident. Women tended to drink alone, in secret, experience greater stigma related to their drinking and to have been referred to treatment by a professional. For men, drinking large amounts was a social experience, not seen as a problem until it had major impact and they tended to self-refer to treatment.
- Participants faced an array of complex problems (e.g. mental health problems, homelessness), with women experiencing additional issues such as domestic violence and financial dependence on men. These problems needed to be tackled simultaneously to enable problematic drinking to be addressed.
- The goal of treatment for most Polish people was abstinence, a reflection of the dominance of the ‘medical model’ of treatment in Poland.
- The strong work ethic within Polish culture was suggested as a key feature for enabling successful treatment, prevention and ongoing recovery.
- Concerns were raised by practitioners about the limited help for people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), who refuse offers to return to Poland.
- Services where Polish language speakers were available were valued not only for offering services in their native language but, importantly, for cultural understanding of values, needs and approaches to support.
