title: Differences between abstinent and non-abstinent individuals in recovery from alcohol use disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-abstinent goals can improve quality of life (QOL) among individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, prior studies have defined "recovery" based on DSM criteria, and thus may have excluded individuals using non-abstinent techniques that do not involve reduced drinking. Furthermore, no prior study has considered length of time in recovery when comparing QOL between abstinent and non-abstinent individuals. The current aims are to identify correlates of non-abstinent recovery and examine differences in QOL between abstainers and non-abstainers accounting for length of time in recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large (N=5380) national sample of individuals who self-describe as "in recovery" from alcohol problems recruited in the context of the What Is Recovery? (WIR) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multivariate stepwise regressions estimating the probability of non-abstinent recovery and average quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Younger age (OR=0.72), no prior treatment (OR=0.63) or AA (OR=0.32), fewer dependence symptoms (OR=0.17) and less time in recovery all significantly (P<0.05) related to non-abstinent recovery. Abstainers reported significantly (P<0.05) higher QOL than non-abstainers (B=0.39 for abstinence vs. non-abstinence), and abstinence was one of the strongest correlates of QOL, even beyond sociodemographic variables like education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-abstainers are younger with less time in recovery and less problem severity but worse QOL than abstainers. Clinically, individuals considering non-abstinent goals should be aware that abstinence may be best for optimal QOL in the long run. Furthermore, time in recovery should be accounted for when examining correlates of recovery.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, 6475 Christie Ave, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. Electronic address: msubbaraman@arg.org.
authors.forename: Meenakshi Sabina
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Subbaraman
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, 6475 Christie Ave, Suite 400, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA. Electronic address: jwitbrodt@arg.org.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witbrodt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abstinence; Non-abstinence; Quality of life; Recovery