Self-Help Groups Improve Outcomes for Dually Diagnosed Persons
Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) is a mutual aid program adapted from the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), specifically serving people who have a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and a mental health disorder. A longitudinal study of 310 members attending 24 DTR meetings in New York City found that greater participation in DTR was associated with greater abstinence from alcohol and drugs; higher confidence in coping with stressful emotions and situations; and improved health promoting behaviors during the two year follow-up period. These results were presented at the National Association of Consumer/Survivor Mental Health Administrators (NAC/SMHA) Annual Technical Assistance Conference, Rockville, Md, August 27-29, 2004, by NDRI’s Stephen Magura (Principal Investigator) and Howard Vogel (Intervention Coordinator). Additional findings were that consistent DTR attendance was associated with better adherence to psychiatric medication, and better adherence was, in turn, associated with lower psychiatric symptom severity and no psychiatric hospitalization during the follow-up period. The study was supported by grant no. R01 DA11240 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
September, 2004