Environmental Events Surrounding Natural Recovery from Alcohol-Related Problems

Abstract

Environmental events influence relapse and recovery patterns in treated alcoholics, and the present study investigated the role of events in recoveries achieved without treatment. Subjects were 21 abstinent and 18 active problem drinkers; none had received treatment, and recovered subjects had abstained an average of 6 years. During structured interviews, event occurrences were assessed during a 3-year period that began 2 years before the attainment of abstinence by recovered subjects and were compared with event occurrences during a matched 3-year interval for active drinkers, which equated the groups on the length of recall. Collaterals verified subjects' reports of their drinking practices, events and absence of treatment. Recovered subjects showed (1) heightened health concerns and a relatively stable work situation during the year preceding initial abstinence, (2) a reduction in health events following resolution and (3) a decrease in legal events and total negative events across the 3 years surrounding resolution. Although qualified by the relatively small sample and the retrospective, correlational design, these findings suggest that (1) changes in several areas of functioning evolve over time to motivate initial abstinence and to maintain continued resolution, and (2) variables that motivate initial behavior change differ somewhat from those that maintain it. (J. Stud. Alcohol 55:401411,1994). IntmductionThe two findings that alcohol treatments do not reliably produce long-term recovery (Miller and

Person-related and treatment-related barriers to alcohol treatment

“…These decisions do not inevitably follow the first two (Saunders, 1993, Saunders, 1996. Prior to deciding that professional intervention is required, most persons with a drinking problem attempt other strategies for addressing the problem and, indeed, many successfully resolve the problem on their own (e.g., King & Tucker, 1998, Tucker et al, 1994). …”

What are we doing when we translate from quantitative models?

“…8 Rich reinforcement is expected to increase persistence (not decrease it), although the size of the effect is left unspecified. Directional predictions also sometimes are derived from the matching law (e.g., Neef, Mace, Shea, & Shade, 1992) and from discounting theory (e.g., Tucker, Vuchinich, & Gladsjo, 1994). Indeed, most of the research that Waltz and Follette cited in support of clinical applications takes this qualitative form.…”

résolution de la consommation problématique d'alcool et de drogues selon les femmes pekuakamiulnuatsh ayant vécu ce problème /

“…Selon certains auteurs (Stall, 1983;Stall & Biernacki, 1986;Tuchfeld, 1981;Tucker, Vuchinich, & Akiko-Gladsjo, 1994), des motivateurs à la rémission peuvent être constitués de pressions sociales ou encore provenir de certains événements de vie qui apportent des changements au niveau de la santé, ainsi qu'aux plans relationnel, vocationnel et religieux de l'individu. Bien que les événements de vie soient importants, ce qui semble déterminant serait plutôt l'évaluation qu'en fait l'individu (Biernacki, 1986;Klingemann, 1991;Sobell, Sobell, Toneatto, & Léo, 1993).…”

“…Il était pas là pour moi, mais sauf que j'ai toujours eu l'impression de penser que si il est pas là pour moi c'est parce qu'il y en a peut-être d'autres qui en ont besoin plus que moi. Le processus de résolution des problèmes de consommation de SPA ainsi que les trajectoires des personnes toxicomanes sont de plus en plus documentés dans la société majoritaire (Bertrand, 2004;Biernacki, 1986;Finney, Moos, & Timko, 1999;Klingemann, 1991;Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983;Sobell et al, 1992;Tucker et al, 1994 (Festinger, 1957). Pour sa part, Kurtness (1983) trouvait que les Ilnuatsh qui rejetaient la culture de la société majoritaire au profit de l'ethnocentrisme étaient plus susceptibles de vivre du stress et de se sentir marginalisés.…”