A longitudinal study of life stress and social support among drug abusers.

A longitudinal study was conducted with 49 clients recently discharged from heroin detoxification programs. Interviews were conducted at monthly intervals for 3 months, and information was gathered on drug use, stressful life events experienced, the availability of social support, and the presence of psychiatric symptomatology. Clients who reentered treatment (i.e., methadone maintenance) reported increasing social support over the 3-month period, decreased their use of heroin and several other drugs, and evidenced decreased depression and anxiety. The remainder of the sample evidenced no significant changes over time. Cross-correlation analysis was applied to the data for males and females, separately. The results suggest that women addicts are especially sensitive to the effects of life stressors and tend to lack the support systems which are available to the males. As a means of coping with stressors, in the absence of support, the female addict appears to "self-medicate" with illegal drugs.