Independent effects of entering recovery as a young versus older adult on long-term functioning and quality of life: Results from a U.S. national study of recovering persons
Open accessAbstract
Background For physical health conditions, earlier intervention typically results in better prognoses and improved quality of life (QoL). Despite some evidence that early intervention yields better subsequent functioning too for behavioral health conditions like alcohol and other drug (AOD) disorders, less is known. This study examined the relationship between the life-stage at which individuals entered AOD recovery, demographic and clinical correlates, and its relationship to a variety of indices of current functioning, QoL and well-being.Method Nationally representative sample of U.S. adults who resolved an AOD problem (Weighted N = 1844). Structured regression analyses tested whether life-stage at which individuals entered recovery (i.e., as a young [18-30yrs,n = 746] vs. older [>30yrs,n = 1098] adult), was associated with current QoL, happiness, self-esteem, distress, and recovery capital, independent of confounders. Sensitivity analyses investigated effects during the first 5-years of recovery.Results Young adult recovery entry was independently associated with current employment, younger age of onset for primary substance, primary substance other than alcohol, and less lifetime psychiatric comorbidity. In fully-adjusted models examining indices of functioning, no association was found between life-stage at recovery entry and current self-esteem, happiness, or distress, but an association was found between young adult recovery entry and better current functioning and QoL. This effect was even more pronounced during the first 5-years of recovery.Conclusion Irrespective of current age, duration of recovery, and clinical markers of impairment, entering recovery as a young, versus older, adult, is associated with better subsequent QoL - an advantage that appears even more discernable early in recovery.
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Entering SUD treatment early is related to better long-term quality of life and functioning.
“entering SUD treatment early has been related to better long-term quality of life and functioning (8)”
From Initial insights from a quality improvement initiative to develop an evidence-informed young adult substance use program (2022) · cites this paper as [8]
The Discussion reports that people who entered recovery as young adults had significantly better later quality of life and functioning than those who entered recovery as older adults. But the study examined when people entered recovery, not when they entered SUD treatment. Its Introduction reports benefits of earlier treatment from other studies, without establishing the claimed long-term quality-of-life finding for treatment entry. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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- Authors
- Kelly, J. F., Greene, M. C., Abry, A., & Bergman, B. G.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kelly, John F.
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-02
- Volume
- 219
- Pages
- 108493
- ISSN
- 0376-8716 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7855819
- OpenAlex
- W3116183723
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH096724)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K24AA022136, K23AA025707)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Homelessness and Social Issues
- Keywords
- young adults, older adults, quality of life, functioning, employment, age of onset of substance use, psychiatric comorbidity, happiness, self-esteem, distress, recovery capital, early intervention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Aged, Alcoholism, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Self Concept, United States, Comorbidity, Substance-Related Disorders, Young Adult
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