What May we be Learning from So-called Spontaneous Remission in Ethnic Minorities?

Abstract

This study describes a small-scale attempt to compare people from two populations in an English county who have grown out of alcohol problems without formal assistance from treatment agencies. The populations were the indigenous white population and the ethnic minority population who originated from the Indian sub-continent, although 40% were born in Britain. There may be more spontaneous remitters and less problematic drinkers in need of specialist services than one would expect on the basis of population and consumption levels in the ethnic minority communities. For both white indigenous and ethnic groups, physical health, self-esteem, ability to cope and work were important motivating factors in reduction or cessation of alcohol use. For the ethnic minority group, social networks, including religiously-based ones, family status and honour were important, whereas accommodation and psychological state were more important to the white indigenous sample. Although the study is anecdotal, a case is made to have services for people with alcohol problems which offer treatments and goals consistent with the attitudes and beliefs of the communities of origin of presenters.

• Drinking Problems
• Spontaneous Remission
• Ethnicity