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SEVERE PROFILE MISMATCH

SEVERE PROFILE MISMATCH

I am talking to myself right now, as much as anyone else out there. I’m most critical of myself. I have made some mistakes:

The over-reliance on the “recovery group” and “recovery program” is highly problematic.

Professionals, and people in recovery, have to be careful. There is a tendency to automatically recommend attendance at “recovery meetings” or enrollment in group therapy for people who have misused substances.

However, these groups are not designed for people with mild or moderate substance use disorders. It’s a mismatch.

These kids (many times they are younger) DO NOT NEED groups in order to recover. It’s a fact.

Harvard University Recovery Research Institute studied recovery pathways.

There are some key takeaways (in terms of group attendance/”program involvement”).
NOTE: They studied people who needed help to recover (assisted pathway = 54%) versus people who figured it out on their own (46%).

Factors that were related to an “Assisted Pathway” were broadly INDICATIVE OF A MORE SEVERE PROFILE.

MORE SEVERE PROFILE INDICATORS

These included:

  • Having used 2 or 3+ substances vs. 1 ;
  • Opioid as one’s primary substance compared to alcohol (and alcohol more likely than cannabis) ;
  • First use of any substance younger than age 15 ;
  • Receipt of a mental health or substance use diagnosis by a medical professional (which, by definition, meant that the person had discussed their substance use and/or mental health with a medical professional).
  • Been arrested and, especially, having been referred to drug court.

Dangerous & Inappropriate

If is very possible that when we send someone with less severe SUD to recovery group it’s an inappropriate referral.

The more I learn, the clearer this is.

It’s dangerous to automatically send people to groups.

It is not good to over-prescribe these groups (regardless of the type of group). It’s dangerous.

There are problems and we can make it worse by sending people who don’t really need that level of intensity.

I have learned this the hard way. I will never forgive myself for some of the referrals I have made to meetings/groups.

More will be revealed.

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