Drug-Free Community Support in Inpatients with Co-occurring Psychiatric Disorders and Substance Use Problems

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the presence of drug-free family and friends in the social networks of patients treated in an inpatient setting for co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance use problems. Methods: Social network interviews were conducted with inpatients at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Acute Psychiatric Unit with co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance use problems (N = 90). Results: Participants reported about five social network members, of which four were drug-free. Most participants (> 70%) were willing to include a drug-free person in the current inpatient treatment plan to support recovery efforts (M = 1.8 network members) and identified several areas of recovery support. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that people treated in an inpatient psychiatric setting have local drug-free family or friends that they are willing to include in the treatment process. These findings support further study of methods to mobilize network members to enhance social support during and following hospitalization.

Keywords:

• Social support
• inpatient
• dual diagnosis
• social network

Acknowledgments

We are thankful for the patients who supported this work and participated in the study. We are also thankful for the outstanding commitment, skill, and integrity of the APU clinical staff and our clinical research team, including Kori A. Kindbom, M.S., Michael Sklar, M.A., Jennifer Mucha, M.A., Rachel Burns, B.A., and Brandon Park, B.A.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported through NIH-NIDA supplemental funding to R34 DA042320 (M. Kidorf, P.I.). The sponsoring agency had no role in the design and analysis of the study, or review or writing of the report. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not represent the official position of the U.S. government.