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  4. Frida Petersson

Frida Petersson

Senior Lecturer

Department of Social Work
Mail
frida.petersson@socwork.gu.se
Visiting address
Sprängkullsgatan 25
41123 Göteborg
Room number
D466
Postal address
Box 720
40530 Göteborg

About Frida Petersson

Background I am an Associate Professor (Docent) in Social Work, with a professional background as a social worker and an MA in Criminology. Prior to my academic career, I worked in social services in Gothenburg, including as a social worker and case manager, primarily focusing on housing and substance use.

Research My overarching research interests concern social exclusion and control, the construction of social problems, substance use and addiction treatment, homelessness, and the interaction between clients and welfare institutions. Of particular interest is to study interventions targeting so-called “problem groups” in society—such as people who use drugs, individuals experiencing homelessness, and/or those involved in criminal activities—with a focus on whether social interventions leads to further exclusion or marginalization as unintended consequences.

In 2013, I earned my PhD in Social Work with the dissertation Controlling Addiction: The Logic, Practice and Semantics of Methadone MaintenanceTreatment. Drawing on ethnographic studies of three substitution treatment clinics, the dissertation examines how power is exercised and clients are constructed within a local institutional context. One of its main contributions lies in elucidating how power and control are enacted and experienced within Swedish addiction treatment.

Current research projects

Harm Reduction Social Work for Homeless People with Drug Problems and Mental Illness (with Jonas Stålheim and Johan Lindwall, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg). Funded by Forte (2026–2028).

Injecting Drug Use among Legal Minors and the Best Interests of the Child: Lived Experiences, Support, and Policy Frameworks in High-Income Countries (with Damon Barrett, School of Global Studies, and Russell Turner, Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg). Funded by Forte (2021–2024).

Teaching

My teaching experience spans all levels of the department’s educational programmes. Currently, most of my teaching takes place at the master's and doctoral levels, and I also supervise PhD students.

Academic services

  • Vice president RC25 Language and Society, International Sociological Association (ISA)

  • Scientific Advisor, National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), Sweden – specialist area: Social Work, Alcohol and Drug Research.

  • Scientific Reviewer, Forte (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare), Open Call for Project Grants – Review Panel: Social Work and Social Care.

  • Member of the Scientific Editorial Board of Socionomen

  • Member of Sonad, the national social science network for alcohol and drug researchers