Alcohol and Drug Abusers' Perceived Reasons for Self-Change in Canada and Switzerland: Computer-Assisted Content Analysis

• NCJ Number: 191940
• Journal: Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 36 Issue: 11 Dated: 2001 Pages: 1467-1500
• Author(s): Linda C. Sobell Ph.D.; Harald K.-H. Klingemann Ph.D.; Tony Toneatto Ph.D.; Mark B. Sobell Ph.D.; Sangeeta Agrawall M.S.; Gloria I. Leo M.A.
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 34 pages
• Grant Number(s): AA08593; 32-8626.85; 8009
• Sponsoring Agency: Swiss National Funds for Scientific Research; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article used computer-assisted content analysis to understand alcohol and drug abusers' perceived reasons for self-change and presents a comparative evaluation across substances and cultures to validate previous findings about subjective appraisal processes.

Abstract

Three studies of natural recoveries among alcohol and drug abusers in two countries involved tape-recorded interviews with 216 respondents. Responses were coded based on a content analytic dictionary approach using a computerized content analysis program. All three studies found several processes mediating the decision to change substance use. The computer content analysis confirmed a cognitive appraisal process regardless of the cultural setting or substance. Computer-assisted content analyses provide a more detailed understanding of the recovery process than was previously available. Although more refined analyses are needed, the remarkable similarities across countries and substances suggest common themes for antecedents to the self-change process. Findings have applicability for designing and evaluating interventions for substance abusers in treatment, as well as for designing community-based interventions to foster self-change. Tables, appendix, references