Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38610049›Full record

ArticleSubstance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2024

Exploring indicators of natural recovery from alcohol and drug use problems: findings from the life in recovery survey in Flanders.

Florian De Meyer, Amine Zerrouk, Clara De Ruysscher, Wouter Vanderplasschen

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Florian De MeyerDepartment of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium. Florian.DeMeyer@UGent.be.
Amine ZerroukDepartment of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Clara De RuysscherDepartment of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Wouter VanderplasschenDepartment of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Henri-Dunantlaan 1, Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
Ghent University · BE

Funding

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek,Belgium BC-11704
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionResearch has established natural recovery (NR) as an important pathway to substance use recovery. Studies investigating correlates of NR have mainly focused on demographic and substance use variables rather than life circumstances. This study seeks to better understand the phenomenon of natural recovery by (i) validating the international scientific literature concerning demographic and substance use indicators of NR in Flanders and (ii) assessing the additional explanatory power of recovery strengths and barriers during active addiction, controlling for demographic and substance use covariates.

methodsA total of 343 persons in recovery from alcohol or drug use problems (≥ 3 months) completed an online cross-sectional survey in Flanders. Participants in NR and in recovery after following treatment were compared using multivariate linear regression models. Reasons for not following treatment were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

resultsHigher education level, lower severity of dependence, and cannabis use as the main problem substance (vs. alcohol) were statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlates of NR. When scores for the number of barriers and strengths associated with active addiction were added, barriers (but not strengths) were significantly associated with NR. When barrier items were individually tested, having untreated emotional or mental health problems, having a driver's license revoked and damaging property were statistically significant correlates. The most reported reason for not entering treatment was not experiencing any need to do so.

conclusionThe results highlight the importance of a holistic approach to recovery support across multiple life domains. Limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed.

Indexed as

Behavior, AddictiveCannabisSubstance-Related DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesEthanolHumansEthanolRecovery capitalSelf-changeSpontaneous recoverySubstance use disorderTreatment

Identifiers

PMID38610049
PMCPMC11015601
OpenAlexW4394769492

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.