Sterling T. Shumway

Achieving Systems-Based Sustained Recovery: A Comprehensive Model for Collegiate Recovery Communities

ABSTRACT The Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery (CSAR) (a Center within the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University, TTU), has developed a comprehensive Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC). This community provides a model of support and relapse prevention for college students recovering from addictive behaviors—primarily alcohol/drug addiction. This model is specifically targeted for implementation in the college/university setting and has been used at TTU for 20 years. The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the literature related to substance use among college-aged individuals, discuss the challenges of recovery within this population, describe existing collegiate programs, and provide an extensive description of the CRC model. The CRC model specifically incorporates recovery support, access to higher education/educational support, peer support, family support, and community support/service in an effort to help individuals attain what we describe as systems-based sustained recovery. Preliminary evidence of success indicates that support services offered by the CRC work for the current population as evidenced by an average relapse rate of only 8%, a graduation rate of 70%, and an average GPA of 3.18 among members. Limitations of the model and plans for future research are also discussed.

Important Factors of Early Addiction Recovery and Inpatient Treatment

Research is needed that confirms inpatient treatment outcomes and evaluates patient typologies. Factors of early recovery and inpatient treatment are examined to (1) support inpatient treatment effectiveness research, (2) explore impacts on outcomes of patient differences (collegiate vs. traditional), and (3) learn about factors that influence inpatient treatment effectiveness. Overall, 95 of 149 (63.8%) participants were classified as progressing in readiness for change from pre to post treatment. Second, a MANCOVA showed significant increases in hope, resiliency, and family functioning and decreases in craving from pre- to posttreatment. Expectations of significant differences in rates of change of treatment outcome variables between traditional and collegiate recovery programs were partially supported.

Gamer Widow: A Phenomenological Study of Spouses of Online Video Game Addicts

Few studies have examined the impact of online video game addiction on addicts’ family members. The purpose of this study is to describe the lived experiences of the spouses of online video game addicts via qualitative, phenomenological methodology. Data were gathered via online, open-ended questions and suggested three categories that described participants’ experiences of being married to an online video game addict: Changes in My Husband, Changes in Me, and Changes in the Marital Relationship. Among these categories, seven themes and 12 subthemes emerged. The study concludes by discussing the essence of the phenomenon, as well as implications for therapy.

Multifamily Groups in Recovery: A Revised Multifamily Curriculum

The Center for the Study of Addiction and Recovery (CSAR; a center within the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University) operates a Collegiate Recovery Community. This community provides a model of support and relapse prevention for college students recovering from addictive behaviors—primarily alcohol and drug addiction. In addition, the CSAR provides the clinical management for an inpatient alcohol and drug treatment facility, The Ranch at Dove Tree (DTR). Professionals at DTR work with individuals using a number of different therapeutic techniques including individual therapy, gender-specific group therapy, multifamily therapy groups, trauma groups, and life skills groups. This article presents a revised multifamily group curriculum developed by the authors and originally tested in an outpatient treatment program. This revised multifamily curriculum was implemented as part of the multifamily programs of both the CSAR and DTR. Preliminary feedback gathered as part of the CSAR family program is presented.

A New Comprehensive Measure of EAP Satisfaction: A Factor Analysis

Abstract This report is a follow-up to the article entitled, “Two outcome measures of EAP satisfaction: A factor analysis” (Shumway, Dersch, Harris, & Arredondo, 2000), which appeared in Employee Assistance Quarterly, Volume 16, Number 4. The previous article described the process of creating a new measure of EAP satisfaction. The current article describes the process of testing the psychometric rigor of this new measure. The results from a factor analysis are reported, and considerations for the inclusion of items are described. The result is a comprehensive yet parsimonious measure of EAP client satisfaction that includes a new family/relational scale as well as some outcome-related variables.

Functional near infrared spectroscopy as a potential biological assessment of addiction recovery: preliminary findings

Abstract Background: Addiction science has primarily utilized self-report, continued substance use, and relapse factors to explore the process of recovery. However, the entry into successful abstinence substantially reduces our assessment abilities. Advances in neuroscience may be the key to objective understanding, treating, and monitoring long-term success in addiction recovery. Objectives: To explore functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) as a viable technique in the assessment of addiction-cue reactivity. Specifically, prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation to alcohol cues was explored among formally alcohol-dependent individuals, across varying levels of successful abstinence. The aim of the investigation was to identify patterns of PFC activation change consistent with duration of abstinence. Methods: A total of 15 formally alcohol-dependent individuals, with abstinence durations ranging from 1 month to 10 years, viewed alcohol images during fNIR PFC assessment. Participants also subjectively rated the same images for affect and arousal level. Results: Subjective ratings of alcohol cues did not significantly correlate with duration of abstinence. As expected, days of abstinence did not significantly correlate with neutral cue fNIR reactivity. However, for alcohol cues, fNIR results showed increased days of abstinence was associated with decreased activation within the dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex regions. Conclusions: The present results suggest that fNIR may be a viable tool in the assessment of addiction-cue reactivity. Results also support previous findings on the importance of dorsolateral and dorsomedial PFC in alcohol-cue activation. The findings build upon these past results suggesting that fNIR-assessed activation may represent a robust biological marker of successful addiction recovery.

The Development of the Hope and Coping in Recovery Measure (HCRM)

A large body of research exists on the causes, effects/consequences, and treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). However, studies on recovery from SUD, including its definition, factors, and sustainability, are lacking. The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the factors of recovery from SUD by developing and testing the Hope and Coping in Recovery Measure (HCRM). A principal components analysis revealed two distinct factors (hope and coping) to be present in the process of recovery from SUD. Implications for future research on the recovery process and the HCRM are discussed.

Using the Satisfaction with Organization Scale (SOS)

Abstract The purpose of this article is to compare the original Satisfaction with Organization Scale (SOS) conducted with employees of “distressed” organizations to another sample gathered from employees who work in “non-distressed” organizations/EA work environments. The authors report a statistically significant difference between the two samples. In addition, further evidence of the validity and reliability of the SOS is presented. In the discussion section of this article, the authors explore how the comparison of the two samples helps EA professionals interpret data gathered from the instrument in order to give meaningful feedback to work organizations. Potential cut-off scores for the SOS are offered with a challenge for continued development of evaluative tools within the EA field.

Addiction and the Mediation of Hope on Craving, Readiness, and Coping

Craving, a compulsive motivation to use, and conscious readiness to change (RTC) are distinct motivators of human behavior. Recovery requires RTC despite involuntary cravings. A structural equation modeling analysis examining hope as a mediator between these constructs found craving to directly associate with precontemplation, while hope partially mediated the relationship between craving, contemplation, and coping. Cravings indirect effect on action toward change occurred only through hope. While craving appears to be a strong associate of precontemplation, hope appears to be an important associate of contemplation toward change and appears to be required for action. Hope also appears to be an important factor of coping in recovery.

Hope, Readiness, and Coping in Family Recovery From Addiction

Addiction adversely affects families, making family recovery important. Family members appear to benefit from hope, healthy coping skills, and a readiness to change. Family recovery research is limited and relationships between these variables are underexplored. Using structural equation modeling, preparation for change at initial assessment before a family treatment program predicted higher hope and coping skills after participation. Initial levels of hope predicted coping skills posttreatment. Gender, treatment track of the addict, and family members’ relation to the addict showed significant effects. The importance of family members’ hope, coping, and readiness to change in family recovery are discussed.