281555
Social connectedness and recovery: Do different types of social connectedness affect substance use disorders recovery outcomes among consumers receiving services in a recovery-oriented system of care approach in a community-based, urban setting?
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Amy Bradshaw, MSW,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Angela Fitzgerald, MS,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Dawn Farrell-Moore, MSW, LCSW, CSAC,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Denise Cooper, LSATP, CRC, MAC, CSAC,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Ryan Friedberg, MPH,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
David N. Masri, PhD, MSW,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Laurie Cathers, MSW,
Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Dace Svikis, PhD,
Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
James May, PhD,
Planning, Development, Research, Evaluation & Substance Use Disorders Services Division, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Richmond, VA
Recovery-oriented systems of care support a person-centered approach that builds on the strengths of individuals, families, and communities to take responsibility for their wellness and recovery from addiction. A recovery community's culture, reflective of the broader community, is believed to be vital to recovery from a substance use disorder, whether through access to programs, support groups, or opportunities to connect with others. One critical element of a strengths-based model of addiction recovery is social connectedness. The authors utilized an existing program evaluation database to investigate whether social connectedness was correlated with self-reported drug and alcohol use among clients receiving grant-funded SUD treatment services from 2007-2011. 249 consumers who received HIV prevention, case management, and SUD treatment services were administered the GPRA (Government Performance Results Act) Structured Interview at intake and at 6-months post-admission to evaluate outcomes. Analysis of GPRA data is ongoing, but preliminary results reveal significant associations between self-reported drug and alcohol use and social connectedness. Attendance of traditional as well as religious and faith-based organizations' self-help groups was significantly and negatively associated with alcohol and illegal drug use. Attendance of religious and faith-based self-help groups was specifically, negatively associated with the use of heroin. Interactions with family and friends supportive of recovery was associated with reduced drug use, except heroin use, and was the only form of social connectedness associated with increased drug use. These results can inform community-based treatment efforts through enhanced understanding of the importance of different forms of social connectedness to treatment outcomes.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Learning Objectives:
Identify urban community-based SUD treatment program outcomes associated with social connectedness
Evaluate outcomes of an urban community-based SUD treatment services provider
Keyword(s): Community-Based Public Health, Substance Abuse Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Amy Bradshaw, MSW is a Research Assistant with the Grants, Research, Planning, & Evaluation Unit at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), where she is involved in the agencyâs program evaluation efforts, research initiatives, grant writing and grants management activities. She received her MSW with a concentration in macro social work practice, policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
