The Effectiveness of a Mutual-Help Group Activity for Drug Users and Family Members in Japan

Abstract

Aims: To understand the efficacy of a mutual-help group activity for drug users and family members in terms of: (a) family members' behavioral changes (b) treatment engagement rate of the drug users, and (c) life satisfaction of family members. Methods: A total of 186 family members answered questionnaires. Results: Attending the group changed the family members' behaviors. The treatment engagement rates within 1, 6, and 12 months for untreated drug users were 23.2%, 39.2%, and 52.3%, respectively. The well-being (Subjective Well-Being Inventory [SUBI]) of long-term group members is higher than that of short-term group members.

Keywords:

• mutual-help activity
• family members
• drug users
• Japan
• life satisfaction

Notes

¹The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

²Treatment can be briefly and usefully defined as a planned, goal directed change process, which is bounded (culture, place, time, etc.) and can be categorized into professional-based, tradition-based, mutual-help based (AA,NA, etc.) and self-help (“natural recovery”) models. There are no unique models or techniques used with substance users- of whatever types- which aren't also used with non-substance users. In the West, with the relatively new ideology of “harm reduction” as well as a consideration of quality of life there are now a new set of goals in addition to those derived from/associated with the older tradition of abstinence driven models. Editor's note.

³The reader is reminded that there are many disease models; not just one. These include, among others, bio-chemical based models, actuarial, functional, experiential, social, political, religious-spirit-animism, economic and consumer based models. Secondly, each have their own critical definitions, criteria, goals and agendas, constituencies, indicated and contra-indicated techniques and services, “:healers” and change agents, preferred sites for intervention, temporal parameters and stake holders Each have their unique ethical associated issues. The recent “medicalization” of “drug use” (substance use disorder) in the DSM-IV REV does not sufficiently serve basic diagnostic purposes of gathering needed information in order to make a needed decision nor give the minimum of needed evidence-based information: etiology, process and prognosis. Editors note.