Patterns of remission from alcohol dependence in the United Kingdom: results from an online panel general population survey.
Abstinence
Alcohol
Epidemiology
Moderate drinking
Recovery
Remission
Treatment
Journal
Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy
ISSN: 1747-597X
Titre abrégé: Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101258060
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024
Historique:
received:
20
10
2023
accepted:
15
12
2023
medline:
5
1
2024
pubmed:
5
1
2024
entrez:
4
1
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Previous research has demonstrated that remissions from alcohol use disorders can occur without accessing treatment. The current study explored the prevalence of such untreated remissions in the UK and further, examined the extent to which people who resolved an alcohol use disorder regarded themselves as ever, or currently, being in recovery. Participants were recruited using the Prolific online platform. Participants who met criteria for lifetime alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were asked about their drinking at its heaviest, use of treatment services, whether they identified as being in recovery, and their current alcohol consumption (to identify those who were abstinent or drinking in a moderate fashion). A total of 3,994 participants completed surveys to identify 166 participants with lifetime alcohol dependence who were currently abstinent (n = 67) or drinking in a moderate fashion (n = 99). Participants who were currently abstinent were more likely to have accessed treatment than those who were currently moderate drinkers (44.4% versus 16.0%; Fischer's exact test = 0.001). Further, those who were abstinent were heavier drinkers prior to remission [Mean (SD) drinks per week = 53.6 (31.7) versus 29.1 (21.7); t-test = 5.6, 118.7 df, p < .001] and were more likely to have ever identified themselves as 'in recovery' (51.5% versus 18.9%; Fischer's exact test = 0.001) than current moderate drinkers. While participants with an abstinent remission were more likely than those currently drinking in a moderate fashion to have accessed treatment and to identify as being 'in recovery,' the majority of participants reduced their drinking without treatment (and did not regard themselves as in recovery).
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Previous research has demonstrated that remissions from alcohol use disorders can occur without accessing treatment. The current study explored the prevalence of such untreated remissions in the UK and further, examined the extent to which people who resolved an alcohol use disorder regarded themselves as ever, or currently, being in recovery.
METHODS
METHODS
Participants were recruited using the Prolific online platform. Participants who met criteria for lifetime alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were asked about their drinking at its heaviest, use of treatment services, whether they identified as being in recovery, and their current alcohol consumption (to identify those who were abstinent or drinking in a moderate fashion).
RESULTS
RESULTS
A total of 3,994 participants completed surveys to identify 166 participants with lifetime alcohol dependence who were currently abstinent (n = 67) or drinking in a moderate fashion (n = 99). Participants who were currently abstinent were more likely to have accessed treatment than those who were currently moderate drinkers (44.4% versus 16.0%; Fischer's exact test = 0.001). Further, those who were abstinent were heavier drinkers prior to remission [Mean (SD) drinks per week = 53.6 (31.7) versus 29.1 (21.7); t-test = 5.6, 118.7 df, p < .001] and were more likely to have ever identified themselves as 'in recovery' (51.5% versus 18.9%; Fischer's exact test = 0.001) than current moderate drinkers.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
While participants with an abstinent remission were more likely than those currently drinking in a moderate fashion to have accessed treatment and to identify as being 'in recovery,' the majority of participants reduced their drinking without treatment (and did not regard themselves as in recovery).
Identifiants
pubmed: 38178169
doi: 10.1186/s13011-023-00588-1
pii: 10.1186/s13011-023-00588-1
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
3Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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