Stimulant abuser groups to engage in 12-step: a multisite trial in the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network.
OBJECTIVE
The study evaluated the effectiveness of an 8-week combined group plus individual 12-step facilitative intervention on stimulant drug use and 12-step meeting attendance and service.


METHODS
Multisite randomized controlled trial, with assessments at baseline, mid-treatment, end of treatment, and 3- and 6-month post-randomization follow-ups (FUs).


METHODS
Intensive outpatient substance treatment programs.


METHODS
Individuals with stimulant use disorders (n = 471) randomly assigned to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU into which the Stimulant Abuser Groups to Engage in 12-Step (STAGE-12) intervention was integrated.


METHODS
Urinalysis and self-reports of substance use and 12-step attendance and activities.


METHODS
Group sessions focused on increasing acceptance of 12-step principles; individual sessions incorporated an intensive referral procedure connecting participants to 12-step volunteers.


RESULTS
Compared with TAU, STAGE-12 participants had significantly greater odds of self-reported stimulant abstinence during the active 8-week treatment phase; however, among those who had not achieved abstinence during this period, STAGE-12 participants had more days of use. STAGE-12 participants had lower Addiction Severity Index Drug Composite scores at and a significant reduction from baseline to the 3-month FU, attended 12-step meetings on a greater number of days during the early phase of active treatment, engaged in more other types of 12-step activities throughout the active treatment phase and the entire FU period, and had more days of self-reported service at meetings from mid-treatment through the 6-month FU.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings are mixed with respect to the impact of integrating the STAGE-12 intervention into intensive outpatient drug treatment compared with TAU on stimulant drug use. However, the results more clearly indicate that individuals in STAGE-12 had higher rates of 12-step meeting attendance and were engaged in more related activities throughout both the active treatment phase and the entire 6-month FU period than did those in TAU.
Alcohol a Drug Abuse Institute University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. ddonovan@u.washington.edu
Dennis M
DM
Donovan
Dennis C
DC
Daley
Gregory S
GS
Brigham
Candace C
CC
Hodgkins
Harold I
HI
Perl
Sharon B
SB
Garrett
Suzanne R
SR
Doyle
Anthony S
AS
Floyd
Patricia C
PC
Knox
Christopher
C
Botero
Thomas M
TM
Kelly
Therese K
TK
Killeen
Carole
C
Hayes
Nicole
N
Kau'i Baumhofer
Nicole
N
Kau'ibaumhofer
Cindy
C
Seamans
Lucy
L
Zammarelli
D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054577:National Institute on Drug Abuse (U.S.); D010349:Patient Compliance; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants