Maintaining abstinence and receiving social support after inpatient drug detox are key factors in improving the quality of life of an individual in recovery, a recent study found.
Norwegian researchers conducted a study with 140 participants who were admitted for inpatient drug detox at a hospital in Norway, between September 2008 and 2010, to determine which factors contributed to a better quality of life six months after treatment completion.
Participants had more than an 11-year history of substance use. Seventy-seven percent of them had previously received addiction treatment for substance use disorders, and 29 percent had used intravenous drugs within the six months prior to being admitted to the inpatient drug detox center.
Researchers waited until patients had completed their acute detoxification phase before asking them to respond to a questionnaire to measure their quality of life. The mean baseline quality of life score for participants was 0.46, which was 39 percent below the general population. Of the 140 participants, 39 percent had a quality of life score between 0.40 and 0.55, and 32 percent had a quality of life score below 0.40.
The current study differed from previous research because of the lengthy span of time that researchers waited before conducting follow-up interviews. Previous studies either analyzed the quality of life of patients at the time of admission and discharge from detox or had shorter follow-up periods of three months or less.
Six months after the baseline quality of life was established, researchers were able to conduct follow-up interviews with 81 percent — or 113 participants. Predictors to determine the quality of life six months after detox included demographic information such as age, gender, and whether patients were in a relationship when their baseline quality of life was measured. Researchers also took into account patients’ self-reported severity of their… (continue reading)
Author: Cesar Gamboa
Cesar Gamboa is a staff reporter and editor for Addiction Now covering topics ranging from legislation to scientific studies. He was previously a general assignment reporter for the Orange County Register. SoCal raised, lover of books, and avid mountain biker (when he wants to be). He can be reached at cesarg@addictionnow.com.
