Short-term recovery from alcohol abuse or dependence: any evidence of a relationship with treatment use in a general population sample?

Abstract

Aims: To test whether survey respondents who report alcohol misuse in the past year are more likely to be abstinent or binge-free in the past 30 days if they have used treatment, than if they have not.

Methods: Analysis of data from the 2002 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health was obtained.

Results: A total of 5730 respondents scored positive for alcohol abuse or dependence in the preceding year. Fewer than 10% had used any treatment for alcohol or drugs in this period, but this was associated with a 10% increase in the past-month abstinence and past-month binge-free drinking compared with respondents who did not access treatment. Such an apparent short-term recovery appeared greater in those whose treatment had been received in a formal treatment setting, a doctor's office, or in self-help groups than in the emergency room or in prison.

Conclusions: Even if part of the association between treatment and recent abstinence and non-binge drinking was causal, indicating that treatment has some impact, it is a pathway chosen only by the minority.