Abstract
This research was conducted with the aim of exploring the impact working as a General Assistant within the Addiction Service in the Dublin area has on an individual. Through the course of this qualitative study, six semi-structured interviews were conducted with three male and three female General Assistants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data through the use of Nvivo 10 software. Six themes arose from the data and were explored further in the findings and discussion sections. The research was the first of its kind to deal with the impact on General Assistants within the Addiction Service but it could go some way to filing the gap in knowledge and developing the role further. Author keywords: Addiction, methadone maintenance treatment, general assistants, opiate addiction, heroin, emotional labour
