Natural recovery from cocaine dependence

Citation
T. Toneatto et al., Natural recovery from cocaine dependence, PSYCH ADDIC, 13(4), 1999, pp. 259-268
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
ISSN journal
0893164X → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
259 - 268
Database
ISI
SICI code
0893-164X(199912)13:4<259:NRFCD>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
Studies of natural recoveries from alcohol, heroin, and cocaine abuse have indicated that many individuals are able to change their drug or alcohol us e when the benefits of using the drug are outweighed by the negatives. The present study investigated the recovery process using 50 abstinent (greater than or equal to 1 year) untreated former cocaine users and 21 untreated a nd nonrecovered cocaine users. The recovered group did not differ from the untreated, active cocaine users in terms of demographic variables, lifetime substance use history, psychiatric history, or cocaine-related consequence s. Recovery was most frequently related to a cognitive evaluation of the pr os and cons of continued cocaine use. Discrete life events triggering cessa tion were less frequently reported by the recovered respondents. Implicatio ns of this research for the treatment of cocaine dependence are discussed.