TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-help strategies among patients with substance use disorders
AU - Westermeyer, J.
AU - Myott, S.
AU - Aarts, R.
AU - Thuras, P.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The objective of this study was to determine (1) the type and extent of self-help efforts among patients presenting for treatment of substance use disorders, and (2) the association of self-help with demographicand clinical characteristics. A retrospective report of life self-help methods, current demographic characteristics, and current and lifetime clinical characteristics was used. Six hundred and forty-two patients in treatment for substance use disorder were interviewed at one of two university medical centers witb Alcohol-Drug Programs located within departments of psychiatry. A research associate (RA) interviewed patients regarding seven types of self-help involving specific, mutually exclusive behaviors and rated the patient's lifetime self-help methods. The patient, RA, and addiction psychiatrists provided demographic, familial, and clinical information. Most patients (78%) had tried one or more types of self-help, with a mean of 2.7 methods per patient. They more frequently chose methods related to the substance (decreasing amounts or frequency, or changing substance type) or joining a self-help group than methods that involved changing friends, residence, or occupation/job/school. Certain patterns of self-help tended to occur together, (eg, changing substance frequency and dose), whereas others appeared more independent (eg, joining a self-help group). Some self-help approaches occurred mostly in association with other methods rather than alone (eg, changing occupation/job/school). More self-help was associated with higher socioeconomic class, more relatives with substance use disorder, greater severity of substance use disorder, and more treatment for substance use disorder. Self-help tends to occur more often after exposure to addicted relatives or addiction treatment. Clinicians and public adult education should promulgate self-help methods in the general population.
AB - The objective of this study was to determine (1) the type and extent of self-help efforts among patients presenting for treatment of substance use disorders, and (2) the association of self-help with demographicand clinical characteristics. A retrospective report of life self-help methods, current demographic characteristics, and current and lifetime clinical characteristics was used. Six hundred and forty-two patients in treatment for substance use disorder were interviewed at one of two university medical centers witb Alcohol-Drug Programs located within departments of psychiatry. A research associate (RA) interviewed patients regarding seven types of self-help involving specific, mutually exclusive behaviors and rated the patient's lifetime self-help methods. The patient, RA, and addiction psychiatrists provided demographic, familial, and clinical information. Most patients (78%) had tried one or more types of self-help, with a mean of 2.7 methods per patient. They more frequently chose methods related to the substance (decreasing amounts or frequency, or changing substance type) or joining a self-help group than methods that involved changing friends, residence, or occupation/job/school. Certain patterns of self-help tended to occur together, (eg, changing substance frequency and dose), whereas others appeared more independent (eg, joining a self-help group). Some self-help approaches occurred mostly in association with other methods rather than alone (eg, changing occupation/job/school). More self-help was associated with higher socioeconomic class, more relatives with substance use disorder, greater severity of substance use disorder, and more treatment for substance use disorder. Self-help tends to occur more often after exposure to addicted relatives or addiction treatment. Clinicians and public adult education should promulgate self-help methods in the general population.
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U2 - 10.1080/105504901750532139
DO - 10.1080/105504901750532139
M3 - Article
C2 - 11579623
AN - SCOPUS:0034828724
SN - 1055-0496
VL - 10
SP - 249
EP - 257
JO - American Journal on Addictions
JF - American Journal on Addictions
IS - 3
ER -