A Case Study of Autonomy Challenges in a Substance Use Rehabilitation Programme Offered by a Third Sector Organization in Collaboration with an Open Prison

Abstract

This article focuses on a study that examined collaboration between a third sector organization, Myllyhoitoyhdistys, and Naarajärvi Prison in conducting a substance abuse rehabilitation programme from 2009 to 2019.  This study provides insights into practical aspects of their cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the organisation’s autonomy in implementing the programme.

The research aimed to address two key questions: 1) What tensions emerged in cooperation? 2) How did the two parties overcome the challenges posed by differences in operating principles? The study utilized data from the national prisoner data system (N = 875) as background information, while interviews were conducted with key actors in the collaboration (N = 8). The findings indicated a high level of mutual trust in the effectiveness of the rehabilitation method. However, conflicts arose due to the parties’ different perceptions of dependency and rehabilitation and the need to consider the special characteristics and situations of the prisoner group. The study highlights the importance of fostering a structured dialogue between the parties to facilitate the development of their collaboration in implementing the programme.