Residents of mutual help recovery homes, characteristics and outcomes: Comparison of four US ethnic subgroups

Abstract

This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of four ethnic groups living in mutual help recovery homes. The sample consisted of 524 Caucasian, 305 African American, 31 Latino/a and 17 American Indian (AI) participants. This article includes a short review of relevant literature on AIs and substance use, provides an analysis of characteristics and outcomes of four ethnic groups and includes a discussion of the implications of the findings for knowledge of patterns of use among AIs. The AIs were more likely to report being on parole or probation and being referred for aftercare by the legal system. Additionally, AIs reported greater disharmony within their recovery residences than Caucasians, but there were no significant ethnic differences in baseline length of stay in Oxford House, length of alcohol or drug sobriety or substance use outcomes 4 months after the baseline assessment.