Authors

• Saarnio, Pekka (University of Tampere. Department of Social Policy and Social Work)

Keywords

addiction, alcoholism, drug abuse, illegal drugs, rehabilitation, social problems

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish people with substance abuse problems, their treatment and rehabilitation process, and the success of treatment. The participants were clients of outpatient clinics who were asked to fill in questionnaires at different stages of the rehabilitation process.

At the beginning of the the treatment, themes pertained to the respondents' background, use of substances and perceptions on treatment. Questions covered their recent substance use and frequency, longest period of sobriety, contacts with other substance abusers, experiences of sexual abuse, attitude towards the principles and activities of AA/NA groups, and religiosity. Treatment history and views on the beginning treatment were charted with questions focusing on whether the respondents had been a client of that particular clinic before, whether they had sought treatment voluntarily, what their goals regarding treatment were, which gender they wished their therapist to be, the importance of medication during treatment, belief in the success of treatment and whether recovery happens as a result of the therapist's or the respondents' own actions.

After six months of treatment, the respondents were again asked about their substance use and frequency, periods of sobriety and contacts with other substance abusers. Questions were also asked about their attendance in AA/NA group activities and other treatment, and their satisfaction with the help and support received from the therapist.

The data further include responses to AASE questionnaire (The Alcohol Addiction Self-Efficacy Scale) that measures a person's ability to abstain from substance abuse. The respondents' impressions on their negative emotions as well as their readiness to change were investigated with STAXI (State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory) and URICA (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment) questionnaires.

The variables W1T-W3A include responses of both the clients and their therapists to the question about how well they have been able to cooperate. These responses were collected at the end of the first and third therapy sessions. Additionally, the data include a variable that the therapist recorded (KDI-variable) which provides information on whether the treatment period was finished as planned.

A separate survey was conducted for the therapists of the respondents in this study (see FSD2688 and FSD2689).