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.
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).