Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa.
Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2023 Jul 5;18(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s13011-023-00552-z.
Much remains unknown about the dynamics of substitute behaviors during addiction recovery among persons attending recovery support groups. Insight into the nature, motives for, and course of substitute behaviors could help to shape recovery support and harm reduction services.
Twenty-three semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 14 males and n = 9 females) were conducted with a convenience sample of Narcotics Anonymous attendees from a number of groups in the Western Cape, South Africa. Participants ranged in age from 22-55 years (M = 39.3, SD = 9.35).
Thematic analysis yielded four themes: (i) substance-to-substance substitution; (ii) substance-to-behavior substitution; (iii) substitute behaviors and harm (reduction) and (iv) support needs to manage and resolve substitute behaviors. According to the study, participants' substitute behaviors developed across recovery stages; were temporary or long-term replacements for substance use disorders and were engaged for distraction, isolation from others, calming, assuaging boredom, keeping occupied, filling a perceived experiential void, modifying mood and to self-medicate. While substitutes were utilized for harm reduction or relapse prevention, the potential for ostensibly healthy behaviors to threaten recovery and lead to relapse was also recognized.
Self-monitoring, ongoing vigilance, and awareness of when substitutes become genuine addictions are critical for timely, suitable interventions.
在参加康复支持小组的康复者中，对于替代行为在成瘾康复过程中的动态，我们知之甚少。深入了解替代行为的性质、动机和过程，有助于形成康复支持和减少伤害服务。
本研究采用便利抽样法，对南非西开普省多个团体的匿名戒毒协会的参与者进行了 23 次半结构式深入访谈（n=14 名男性和 n=9 名女性）。参与者年龄在 22-55 岁之间（M=39.3，SD=9.35）。
主题分析产生了四个主题：（i）物质替代物质；（ii）物质替代行为；（iii）替代行为和伤害（减少）和（iv）管理和解决替代行为的支持需求。研究表明，参与者的替代行为在康复阶段发展；是物质使用障碍的临时或长期替代物，并用于分散注意力、与他人隔离、镇静、缓解无聊、保持忙碌、填补感知到的体验空白、调节情绪和自我治疗。虽然替代品被用于减少伤害或预防复发，但人们也认识到，表面上健康的行为可能会威胁到康复并导致复发。
自我监测、持续警惕以及意识到何时替代品成为真正的成瘾是及时、适当干预的关键。
