Standing at the Crossroads: A Grounded Theory of Early-Stage Desistance From Heroin Careers in Malta

Manuel Gellel, Marilyn Clark, Albert Bell, National Drugs and Addictions Unit, Ministry for Social Policy and Children, s Rights, Department of Psychology, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, Department of Youth, Community and Migration Studies, Faculty for Social Wellbeing University of Malta

Journal of Drug Issues

Published online on June 04, 2026

Abstract

Journal of Drug Issues, Ahead of Print.
Evidence suggests that individuals affected by problematic heroin use can desist at various points in their drug-using career. Drawing on a doctoral study that developed a non-linear four-stage model of desistance from heroin careers within the Maltese ...