Effectiveness of Mutual Help Groups for Illicit Drug Use Disorders: A Review of the Current Literature.

IF 4.6 2区医学 Q1 SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Current Addiction Reports Pub Date : 2025-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-06 DOI:10.1007/s40429-025-00635-w

Wayne Kepner, Keith Humphreys

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose of review: Evaluate literature examining whether mutual help groups (MHGs) for illicit drug use disorders benefit participants.

Recent findings: Recent studies consistently show that MHG attendance and involvement predict reductions in drug use and addiction severity. More rigorous methodologies offer stronger evidence of effectiveness, but additional controlled trials are needed. Drug-focused MHG challenges include lower success rates of professionally-delivered interventions to facilitate participation compared to alcohol-focused MHGs, and stigma towards opioid agonist medications. Culturally-tailored MHG formats may benefit specific populations (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities). Non-12 step MHGs like SMART Recovery show promise, but research is limited. Online delivery formats positively affect retention.

Summary: Evidence on the benefits of MHGs for drug use disorders is encouraging but incomplete. MHG engagement may be enhanced by cultural adaptations and reduced stigma towards medications. Future research should focus on non-12 step MHGs, treatment integration, optimizing online formats, and understudied groups (e.g. Indigenous populations). Selection bias remains a challenge in evaluations of MHG effectiveness.

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非法药物使用障碍互助小组的有效性：当前文献综述。

本综述的目的：评价有关非法药物使用障碍互助小组（MHGs）是否对参与者有益的文献。最近的发现：最近的研究一致表明，MHG的出席和参与预示着药物使用和成瘾严重程度的减少。更严格的方法提供了更有力的有效性证据，但还需要更多的对照试验。以药物为重点的MHG面临的挑战包括，与以酒精为重点的MHG相比，专业提供的干预措施促进参与的成功率较低，以及对阿片类激动剂药物的耻辱感。文化量身定制的MHG格式可能有利于特定人群（例如，种族/少数民族）。像SMART Recovery这样的非12步mhg显示出希望，但研究有限。在线交付形式对留存率有积极影响。总结：关于mhg对药物使用障碍的益处的证据令人鼓舞，但不完整。文化适应和减少对药物的耻辱感可能会增强MHG的参与。未来的研究应侧重于非12步mhg、治疗整合、优化在线格式和研究不足的群体（如土著人口）。选择偏差仍然是MHG有效性评估中的一个挑战。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Current Addiction Reports Psychology-Clinical Psychology

CiteScore

6.60

自引率

4.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： This journal focuses on the prevention, assessment and diagnosis, and treatment of addiction. Designed for physicians and other mental health professionals who need to keep up-to-date with the latest research, Current Addiction Reports offers expert reviews on the most recent and important research in addiction. We accomplish this by appointing leaders in the field to serve as Section Editors in key subject areas and disciplines, such asAlcoholTobaccoStimulants, cannabis, and club drugsBehavioral addictionsGender disparities in addictionComorbid psychiatric disorders and addictionSubstance abuse disorders and HIVSection Editors, in turn, select the most pressing topics as well as experts to evaluate the latest research, report on any controversial discoveries or hypotheses of interest, and ultimately bring readers up-to-date on the topic. Articles represent interdisciplinary endeavors with research from fields such as psychiatry, psychology, pharmacology, epidemiology, and neuroscience.Additionally, an international Editorial Board—representing a range of disciplines within addiction medicine—ensures that the journal content includes current, emerging research and suggests articles of special interest to their country or region.