The Relationship Between Self-Reported Prior Drug Use and Treatment Effectiveness in Substance Use Disorder Residential Wilderness Treatment with Young Adult Males

Abstract

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is an increasingly common disorder in North America; however, there is little research on substance use disorder treatment for young adults with SUD (Zhou, et al., 2015). Enviros Shunda Creek is a ten- bed, 90-day program located in Alberta, Canada for males ages 18-24 who are diagnosed with SUD. This outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) program treats SUD using mindfulness-based outdoor experiences in addition to more traditional individual and group therapy. This study examined the relationship between self-reported frequency of prior drug use, measured by the Personal Involvement with Chemicals Scales (PICS), and change in treatment outcomes, measured by the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2 (OQ-45.2) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results demonstrated clients’ PICS scores at intake to be significantly positively correlated with OQ-45.2 total scores and OQ total change scores (discharge - intake). The OQ-45.2 Symptom Distress subscale was also positively correlated with PICS intake scores as was the Symptom Distress change score. In addition, PICS scores were found to be negatively correlated with the FFMQ total score and subscale intake scores on the Act with Awareness subscale. These findings suggest that clients with higher self-reported drug use at intake enter with higher symptom distress, and less awareness of their actions, than those who score lower on the PICS. Pre-treatment drug use assessment is encouraged as is progress monitoring for programs to track clients through treatment. Further research is encouraged to determine if different pre-treatment drug use reveals different treatment trajectories, as preliminary data presented indicates the trajectories are similar. Keywords: Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare, Substance Use Disorder (SUD), OQ45.2, Personal Involvement with Chemicals Scale (PICS)