mysticalnightrusade

[mysticalnightrusade]

Coursera Data Management and Visualization Week1 – v2

13 Feb 2021

 Data set: National Epidemiologic Study of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)

SECTION 2C: Alcohol Treatment Utilization

 Hypothesis: Not all individuals follow through with alcohol treatment.  

Research Question 1:

 After looking through the codebook for the NESARC study, I have decided that I am particularly interested in alcohol treatment utilization. Starting with the column “EVER SOUGHT HELP BECAUSE OF DRINKING” (S2CQ1) I will examine usage of the thirteen available treatment options (S2CQ2A1 – S2CQ2A13).

 Did all individuals who sought treatment follow through with treatment options?

 Research Question 2:

 I am interested in effectiveness of alcohol treatment utilization. Starting with the column “WHEN WENT TO …” (S2CQ2B1 – S2CQB13) I will examine time periods for each of the thirteen available treatment options (S2CQ2A1 – S2CQ2A13).

 What percentage of the population remains active in treatment?

 I would also like to compare results from my Research Question 2 to the categorized treatment summaries from the article Latent Class Analysis of Alcohol Treatment Utilization Patterns and 3-Year Alcohol Related Outcomes.

 Classification

Multiservice Users (8.7%)

Private Professional Service Users (32.8%)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Paired with Specialty  Addiction Service Users (22.0%)

Users of AA Alone (36.5%)

  Literature review:

 Emily Cohen, Richard Feinn, Albert Arias, Henry R. Kranzler,

Alcohol treatment utilization: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions,

Drug and Alcohol Dependence,

Volume 86, Issues 2–3,

2007,

Pages 214-221,

ISSN 0376-8716,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.06.008.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871606002298)

Abstract: Background

Epidemiological studies consistently show low rates of alcohol treatment utilization among individuals with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, there is not as great consistency in the characteristics that predict alcohol treatment utilization.

Methods

Using data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), we examined attributes associated with treatment utilization among individuals with an AUD. We used stepwise backward selection logistic regression analysis to examine demographic and clinical predictors of treatment utilization, in order to identify opportunities to improve the delivery of services to this population.

Results

Only 14.6% of individuals who met lifetime criteria for an AUD reported ever having received alcohol treatment (including self-help group participation). A greater proportion of respondents with both alcohol abuse and dependence (27.9%) reported having received treatment, compared with 7.5% of those with alcohol abuse only and 4.8% of those with alcohol dependence only. Older individuals, men, and those who were divorced, had less education or more lifetime comorbid mood, personality, and drug use disorders were also more likely to have received treatment.

Conclusions

The majority of individuals with an AUD never receive formal alcohol treatment, nor do they participate in self-help groups. Although natural recovery from an AUD is well documented, participation in alcohol treatment is associated with improved outcomes. The data presented here should be taken into account when efforts are made to enhance alcohol treatment utilization.

Literature review 2:

Keywords: NESARC; Alcohol treatment; Epidemiology; Alcohol use disorders; Service utilization

Orion Mowbray, Joseph E. Glass, Claudette L. Grinnell-Davis,

Latent Class Analysis of Alcohol Treatment Utilization Patterns and 3-Year Alcohol Related Outcomes,

Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,

Volume 54,

2015,

Pages 21-28,

ISSN 0740-5472,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2015.01.012.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547215000379)

Abstract: People who obtain treatment for alcohol use problems often utilize multiple sources of help. While prior studies have classified treatment use patterns for alcohol use, an empirical classification of these patterns is lacking. For the current study, we created an empirically derived classification of treatment use and described how these classifications were prospectively associated with alcohol-related outcomes. Our sample included 257 participants of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) who first received alcohol treatment in the 3-year period prior to their baseline interview. We used latent class analysis to identify classes of treatment users based on their patterns of treatment use of 13 types of alcohol treatment. Regression models examined how classes of treatment use at baseline were associated with alcohol-related outcomes assessed at a 3-year follow-up interview. Outcomes included a continuous measure of the quantity and frequency of alcohol use and DSM-IV alcohol use disorder status. Four classes of treatment users were identified: (1) multiservice users (8.7%), (2) private professional service users (32.8%), (3) alcoholics anonymous (AA) paired with specialty addiction service users (22.0%), and (4) users of AA alone (36.5%). Those who utilized AA paired with specialty addiction services had better outcomes compared to those who used AA alone. In addition to elucidating the most common treatment utilization patterns executed by people seeking help for their alcohol problems, the results from this study suggest that increased efforts may be needed to refer individuals across sectors of care to improve treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Treatment utilization; Alcohol use disorders; Latent class analysis