| In this study the factors or characteristics associated with self-help group attendance among persons who participated in a pharmacotherapy treatment study for substance dependence were identified using a comparative descriptive design. Secondary analyses were performed on this convenience sample of an existing data set of 232 alcohol-dependent subjects and 354 alcohol- and cocaine-dependent subjects who took part in one of four double-blind placebo-controlled pharmacotherapy clinical trials for substance dependence during the years 2000--2007. It was anticipated that individual participant characteristics and factors (i.e., self-identification of a religious preference, greater severity of substance dependence, and experience with treatment or self-help groups) would be associated with a greater likelihood of attendance at self-help groups. Furthermore, it was expected that those who attended self-help groups would demonstrate improved treatment outcomes as noted by fewer days of the following: substance use, employment problems, serious conflicts with family or unrelated people, and participation in illegal activities. Three core themes emerged from this nonrandomized convenience sample study: (a) demographics such as occupation, age, race, and education affected treatment outcomes; (b) greater severity of substance dependence at baseline positively determined self-help group attendance among persons who participated in a pharmacotherapy treatment study for their substance dependence; and (c) experience with alcohol treatments and outpatient days were the notable predictors of self-help group attendance for the alcohol- and cocaine-dependent group. In addition, religious affiliation was not associated with the decision to attend self-help groups for drug dependence, and self-help group attendance was a negative predictor of alcohol treatment outcomes. The sub-research question was created to determine whether participation in self-help groups in the alcohol-dependent and alcohol- and cocaine-dependent groups would result in fewer days of the following: substance use, employment problems, serious conflicts with family and non-family members, and participation in illegal activities. However, there was no evidence of any effect on those areas as a result of participation in self-help groups. |
