Regular article
Age differences in outcomes among patients in the “Stimulant Abuser Groups to Engage in 12-Step” (STAGE-12) intervention

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2017.10.012Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Age moderates the effects of the STAGE-12 intervention on stimulant use.

  • Younger age was associated with greater odds of remaining abstinent from stimulants in STAGE-12 vs TAU.

  • Among those not abstinent, younger age was associated with greater rates of stimulant use for those in STAGE-12 vs TAU.

  • Younger age related to somewhat higher rates of active involvement in TSMHO activities among those in STAGE-12 vs TAU.

  • Ongoing assessment of substance use is recommended so treatment modality can be adjusted, if needed.

Abstract

Emerging adults (roughly 18–29 years) with substance use disorders can benefit from participation in twelve-step mutual-help organizations (TSMHO), however their attendance and participation in such groups is relatively low. Twelve-step facilitation therapies, such as the Stimulant Abuser Groups to Engage in 12-Step (STAGE-12), may increase attendance and involvement, and lead to decreased substance use.

Aims

Analyses examined whether age moderated the STAGE-12 effects on substance use and TSMHO meeting attendance and participation.

Design

We utilized data from a multisite randomized controlled trial, with assessments at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), end-of-treatment (week 8), and 3- and 6- months post-randomization.

Participants

Participants were adults with DSM-IV diagnosed stimulant abuse or dependence (N = 450) enrolling in 10 intensive outpatient substance use treatment programs across the U.S.

Analysis

A zero-inflated negative binomial random-effects regression model was utilized to examine age-by-treatment interactions on substance use and meeting attendance and involvement.

Findings

Younger age was associated with larger treatment effects for stimulant use. Specifically, younger age was associated with greater odds of remaining abstinent from stimulants in STAGE-12 versus Treatment-as-Usual; however, among those who were not abstinent during treatment, younger age was related to greater rates of stimulant use at follow-up for those in STAGE-12 compared to TAU. There was no main effect of age on stimulant use. Younger age was also related to somewhat greater active involvement in different types of TSMHO activities among those in STAGE-12 versus TAU. There were no age-by-treatment interactions for other types of substance use or for treatment attendance, however, in contrast to stimulant use; younger age was associated with lower odds of abstinence from non-stimulant drugs at follow-up, regardless of treatment condition. These results suggest that STAGE-12 can be beneficial for some emerging adults with stimulant use disorder, and ongoing assessment of continued use is of particular importance.

Keywords

Twelve-step facilitation
Mutual-help
Self-help
Stimulant use
Emerging adults

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