We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.
The Impact of Social Support and Attachment Style on Quality of Life and Readiness to Change in a Sample of Individuals Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence
Alan A. Cavaiola , Barbara A. Fulmer , David Stout
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 2, 2015
Social support is considered a vital factor in substance use disorder recovery. This research examines the types of social support behaviors that the opioid dependent individuals consider helpful and explores whether attachment style was a determining factor in whether social support was perceived as helpful. While social support predicted perceived improvement in overall quality of life and abstinence, secure attachment style did not predict improvement or with readiness to change as predicted (most participants fell within the Precontemplation category. Since social support was found to be important in one’s decision to initiate treatment and to maintain abstinence (with counselors and first-degree family members being identified as main supports. This suggests that counselors may increase positive treatment outcomes by developing positive, supportive therapeutic relationship with clients and by involving first-degree family members as soon as possible in the treatment process.