Jane Witbrodt1, Thomasina J Borkman2, Aina Stunz3, Meenakshi Sabina Subbaraman3. 1. Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6475 Christie Avenue, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608-1010, USA jwitbrodt@arg.org. 2. Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6475 Christie Avenue, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608-1010, USA Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA. 3. Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6475 Christie Avenue, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608-1010, USA.
Abstract
AIMS: To compare self-changers (natural recovery) with help seekers on demographics, pre-recovery problem severity, and recovery beliefs and behaviors; and to augment these quantitative findings with information extracted from the qualitative stories of a subset of self-changers to explore themes in recovery paths as informed by a nascent natural recovery literature. METHODS: Quantitative secondary analyses were conducted with persons who had responded to a US nationwide online survey called 'What Is Recovery' (WIR) and who reported a prior lifetime alcohol problem (n = 5495). Six men and six women (with longer-term recoveries) interviewed later were asked to tell their 'recovery story from the beginning up to now'. These were coded using a narrative approach. RESULTS: Compared with help seekers, self-changers were younger and never married: they did not differ on problem severity, gender, ethnicity or education. Self-changers identified with 'used to have a problem' more than in recovery/recovered, reported fewer years in that status, and reported more current, non-problematic substance use. A new concept of shadow help and shadow obstacles to help-seeking emerged from the qualitative analysis. Though self-changers believed that they had overcome their alcohol problem on their own, change actually occurred within a social context that allowed access to information, normative expectations, relationships, and other opportunities that provided important resources for change. CONCLUSION: Findings imply that the concept of help-seeking needs to be re-conceptualized to include the informal help we found in this study.
AIMS: To compare self-changers (natural recovery) with help seekers on demographics, pre-recovery problem severity, and recovery beliefs and behaviors; and to augment these quantitative findings with information extracted from the qualitative stories of a subset of self-changers to explore themes in recovery paths as informed by a nascent natural recovery literature. METHODS: Quantitative secondary analyses were conducted with persons who had responded to a US nationwide online survey called 'What Is Recovery' (WIR) and who reported a prior lifetime alcohol problem (n = 5495). Six men and six women (with longer-term recoveries) interviewed later were asked to tell their 'recovery story from the beginning up to now'. These were coded using a narrative approach. RESULTS: Compared with help seekers, self-changers were younger and never married: they did not differ on problem severity, gender, ethnicity or education. Self-changers identified with 'used to have a problem' more than in recovery/recovered, reported fewer years in that status, and reported more current, non-problematic substance use. A new concept of shadow help and shadow obstacles to help-seeking emerged from the qualitative analysis. Though self-changers believed that they had overcome their alcohol problem on their own, change actually occurred within a social context that allowed access to information, normative expectations, relationships, and other opportunities that provided important resources for change. CONCLUSION: Findings imply that the concept of help-seeking needs to be re-conceptualized to include the informal help we found in this study.
Authors: Lee Ann Kaskutas; Thomasina J Borkman; Alexandre Laudet; Lois A Ritter; Jane Witbrodt; Meenakshi Sabina Subbaraman; Aina Stunz; Jason Bond Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: D V Sheehan; Y Lecrubier; K H Sheehan; P Amorim; J Janavs; E Weiller; T Hergueta; R Baker; G C Dunbar Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 1998 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Susan E Collins; Connor B Jones; Gail Hoffmann; Lonnie A Nelson; Starlyn M Hawes; Véronique S Grazioli; Jessica L Mackelprang; Jessica Holttum; Greta Kaese; James Lenert; Patrick Herndon; Seema L Clifasefi Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2015-08-19