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Cited by 135Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesHomelessness and Social IssuesAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Two pathways out of drinking problems without professional treatment

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Humphreys, Keith, Moos, Rudolf H., Finney, John W.·1995·Addictive Behaviors
DOI 10.1016/0306-4603(95)00005-w
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Abstract

This 3-year longitudinal study examined two recovery pathways among 135 problem drinking individuals who never received professional treatment. Almost half (48.3%) of those individuals for whom outcome could be clearly determined became moderate drinkers or stably abstinent. At baseline, individuals who subsequently became abstinent (n = 28) were of low socioeconomic status, had severe drinking problems, and believed their drinking was a very serious problem. Once they began their recovery, they relied heavily on Alcoholics Anonymous as a maintenance factor. In contrast, individuals who became moderate drinkers (n = 29) had higher socioeconomic status and more social support at baseline than did individuals who became abstinent or continued to have drinking problems. A logistic regression on baseline data showed that it was possible to predict which natural recovery pathway an individual drinker would follow. The implications of these findings for alcoholism treatment and policy are discussed.

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Authors
Humphreys, K., Moos, R. H., & Finney, J. W.
Affiliations
  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Humphreys, Keith
ORCID
Humphreys, Keith
Venue
Addictive Behaviors
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1995-07
Volume
20
Issue
4
Pages
427-441
ISSN
0306-4603 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0306-4603(95)00005-w
OpenAlex
W2055495850
Cited by
135
References
45
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
FWCI
2.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Addictive Behaviors (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA006699, AA02863, AA 06699)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
problem drinking, natural recovery, alcohol abstinence, moderate drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous, social support, socioeconomic status, predictors of recovery, alcoholism treatment
MeSH terms
Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholism, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Treatment Outcome

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