The UK National Recovery Survey: nationally representative survey of people overcoming a drug or alcohol problem

Ed Day; Ifigeneia Manitsa; Amanda Farley; John F. Kelly

doi:10.1192/bjo.2023.654

The UK National Recovery Survey: nationally representative survey of people overcoming a drug or alcohol problem

Ed Day^*, Ifigeneia Manitsa, Amanda Farley, John F. Kelly

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background
Alcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.

Aims
To determine the UK population prevalence of overcoming an AOD problem and the prevalence and correlates of ‘assisted’ pathways to problem resolution.

Method
Stage 1: a screening question was administered in a national telephone survey to provide (a) an estimate of the UK prevalence of AOD problem resolution; and (b) a demographic profile of those reporting problem resolution. Stage 2: social surveying organisation YouGov used the demographic data from stage 1 to guide the administration of the UK National Recovery Survey to a representative subsample from its online panel.

Results
In stage 1 (n = 2061), 102 (5%) reported lifetime AOD problem resolution. In the weighted sample (n = 1373) who completed the survey in stage 2, 49.9% reported ‘assisted’ pathway use via formal treatment (35.0%), mutual help (29.7%) and/or recovery support services (22.6%). Use of an assisted pathway was strongly correlated with lifetime AOD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.54) and arrest in the past year (AOR = 7.88) and inversely correlated with absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.17). Those with cocaine (AOR = 2.44) or opioid problems (AOR = 3.21) were more likely to use assisted pathways compared with those with primary alcohol problems.

Conclusion
Nearly three million people have resolved an AOD problem in the UK. Findings challenge the therapeutic pessimism sometimes associated with these problems and suggest a need to learn from community-based self-change that can supplement and enhance existing treatment modalities.

Original language	English
Article number	e67
Journal	BJPsych Open
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.654
Publication status	Published - 14 Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding:
This study was supported by a philanthropic donation from the CrEdo Foundation to the University of Birmingham. A.F. has been awarded Ethicon (Johnson and Johnson) researcher-led funding. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Keywords

Alcohol use disorder
DRUG USE DISORDER
recovery
problem resolution
treatment
national survey

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1192/bjo.2023.654Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

DayE2024UKFinal published version, 237 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

1 Article

A UK national study of prevalence and correlates of adopting or not adopting a recovery identity among individuals who have overcome a drug or alcohol problem
Day, E., Manitsa, I., Farley, A. & Kelly, J. F., 17 Nov 2023, In: Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy. 18, 1, 13 p., 68.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Cite this

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title = "The UK National Recovery Survey: nationally representative survey of people overcoming a drug or alcohol problem",

abstract = "BackgroundAlcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.AimsTo determine the UK population prevalence of overcoming an AOD problem and the prevalence and correlates of {\textquoteleft}assisted{\textquoteright} pathways to problem resolution.MethodStage 1: a screening question was administered in a national telephone survey to provide (a) an estimate of the UK prevalence of AOD problem resolution; and (b) a demographic profile of those reporting problem resolution. Stage 2: social surveying organisation YouGov used the demographic data from stage 1 to guide the administration of the UK National Recovery Survey to a representative subsample from its online panel.ResultsIn stage 1 (n = 2061), 102 (5%) reported lifetime AOD problem resolution. In the weighted sample (n = 1373) who completed the survey in stage 2, 49.9% reported {\textquoteleft}assisted{\textquoteright} pathway use via formal treatment (35.0%), mutual help (29.7%) and/or recovery support services (22.6%). Use of an assisted pathway was strongly correlated with lifetime AOD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.54) and arrest in the past year (AOR = 7.88) and inversely correlated with absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.17). Those with cocaine (AOR = 2.44) or opioid problems (AOR = 3.21) were more likely to use assisted pathways compared with those with primary alcohol problems.ConclusionNearly three million people have resolved an AOD problem in the UK. Findings challenge the therapeutic pessimism sometimes associated with these problems and suggest a need to learn from community-based self-change that can supplement and enhance existing treatment modalities.",

keywords = "Alcohol use disorder, DRUG USE DISORDER, recovery, problem resolution, treatment, national survey",

author = "Ed Day and Ifigeneia Manitsa and Amanda Farley and Kelly, {John F.}",

note = "Funding: This study was supported by a philanthropic donation from the CrEdo Foundation to the University of Birmingham. A.F. has been awarded Ethicon (Johnson and Johnson) researcher-led funding. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.",

year = "2024",

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doi = "10.1192/bjo.2023.654",

language = "English",

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AU - Manitsa, Ifigeneia

AU - Farley, Amanda

AU - Kelly, John F.

N1 - Funding: This study was supported by a philanthropic donation from the CrEdo Foundation to the University of Birmingham. A.F. has been awarded Ethicon (Johnson and Johnson) researcher-led funding. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

PY - 2024/3/14

Y1 - 2024/3/14

N2 - BackgroundAlcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.AimsTo determine the UK population prevalence of overcoming an AOD problem and the prevalence and correlates of ‘assisted’ pathways to problem resolution.MethodStage 1: a screening question was administered in a national telephone survey to provide (a) an estimate of the UK prevalence of AOD problem resolution; and (b) a demographic profile of those reporting problem resolution. Stage 2: social surveying organisation YouGov used the demographic data from stage 1 to guide the administration of the UK National Recovery Survey to a representative subsample from its online panel.ResultsIn stage 1 (n = 2061), 102 (5%) reported lifetime AOD problem resolution. In the weighted sample (n = 1373) who completed the survey in stage 2, 49.9% reported ‘assisted’ pathway use via formal treatment (35.0%), mutual help (29.7%) and/or recovery support services (22.6%). Use of an assisted pathway was strongly correlated with lifetime AOD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.54) and arrest in the past year (AOR = 7.88) and inversely correlated with absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.17). Those with cocaine (AOR = 2.44) or opioid problems (AOR = 3.21) were more likely to use assisted pathways compared with those with primary alcohol problems.ConclusionNearly three million people have resolved an AOD problem in the UK. Findings challenge the therapeutic pessimism sometimes associated with these problems and suggest a need to learn from community-based self-change that can supplement and enhance existing treatment modalities.

AB - BackgroundAlcohol or drug (AOD) problems are a significant health burden in the UK population, and understanding pathways to remission is important.AimsTo determine the UK population prevalence of overcoming an AOD problem and the prevalence and correlates of ‘assisted’ pathways to problem resolution.MethodStage 1: a screening question was administered in a national telephone survey to provide (a) an estimate of the UK prevalence of AOD problem resolution; and (b) a demographic profile of those reporting problem resolution. Stage 2: social surveying organisation YouGov used the demographic data from stage 1 to guide the administration of the UK National Recovery Survey to a representative subsample from its online panel.ResultsIn stage 1 (n = 2061), 102 (5%) reported lifetime AOD problem resolution. In the weighted sample (n = 1373) who completed the survey in stage 2, 49.9% reported ‘assisted’ pathway use via formal treatment (35.0%), mutual help (29.7%) and/or recovery support services (22.6%). Use of an assisted pathway was strongly correlated with lifetime AOD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.54) and arrest in the past year (AOR = 7.88) and inversely correlated with absence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 0.17). Those with cocaine (AOR = 2.44) or opioid problems (AOR = 3.21) were more likely to use assisted pathways compared with those with primary alcohol problems.ConclusionNearly three million people have resolved an AOD problem in the UK. Findings challenge the therapeutic pessimism sometimes associated with these problems and suggest a need to learn from community-based self-change that can supplement and enhance existing treatment modalities.

KW - Alcohol use disorder

KW - DRUG USE DISORDER

KW - recovery

KW - problem resolution

KW - treatment

KW - national survey

U2 - 10.1192/bjo.2023.654

DO - 10.1192/bjo.2023.654

M3 - Article

C2 - 38482691

VL - 10

JO - BJPsych Open

JF - BJPsych Open

IS - 2

M1 - e67

ER -

The UK National Recovery Survey: nationally representative survey of people overcoming a drug or alcohol problem

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Research output

A UK national study of prevalence and correlates of adopting or not adopting a recovery identity among individuals who have overcome a drug or alcohol problem

Cite this