A qualitative study of self-managed change in substance dependence among women

Abstract

Alcohol and drug abuse and dependence are common disorders in our society, and the vast majority of those who recover do so without formal treatment. Although this phenomenon appears to be more common among women than men, no study reported in the literature has provided information on the process of natural recovery among women. This qualitative study found that the model of natural recovery described by Biernacki appears to adequately characterize the broad categories of the process among women. There are, however, gender-specific aspects to a number of the processes and strategies described, and in the degree of salience of some of the factors in enhancing motivation to change addictive behaviors. The term “self-managed change” has been adopted to more adequately characterize this process.