Examining Recovery Status and Supports before and after Substance Abuse Disorder Treatment Among Clients Who Experienced Lifetime and Recent Firearm-Related Threats

Abstract

Firearm-related risks have often been overlooked in the sequela of substance use and substance use disorders. This study compares adult substance abuse disorder treatment (SADT) clients who experienced recent ( n = 274) and lifetime ( n = 889) firearm threats to adults who were not threatened with a firearm ( n = 2029) before and 12 months after program entry. More men experienced firearm threats (38.8%) than women (34.2%). However, among those with any firearm threats, more women (27.2%) experienced firearm threats in the year before program entry than men (20.2%). Being threatened with a firearm was associated with increased economic vulnerability, criminal justice system involvement, mental health problems, and victimization both before and after SADT program entry. A higher number of adverse childhood experiences were associated with firearm threats and particularly recent firearm threats. Results of this study underscore the importance of screening for firearm-related risks in substance abuse disorder treatment programs.

Mental Health and Recovery Needs Among Women Substance Use Disorder Treatment Clients With Stalking Victimization Experiences

“…Having limited resources may make SUD recovery especially difficult (Best et al, 2012; Granfield & Cloud, 1999; Logan et al, 2020). Individuals with co-occurring SUD and mental health problems often have increased recovery needs (Agterberg et al, 2020; Lynch et al, 2020; Martin, Scialli, & Terplan, 2020; Priester et al, 2016) as do individuals with victimization histories (Logan et al, 2022; Logan & Cole, 2022; Logan & Landhuis, 2022a; Logan & Showalter, 2022). Interpersonal victimization experiences are also associated with increased mental health problems (Cafferky, Mendez, Anderson, & Stith, 2018; Hughes, McCabe, Wilsnack, West, & Boyd, 2010; Keyser-Marcus et al, 2015; Lipsky et al, 2010).…”

“…Stalking victimization is also associated with resource losses (Logan et al, 2022; Logan & Landhuis, 2022a; Logan & Showalter, 2022; Logan & Walker, 2017a, 2017b), and resources are crucial for successful SUD program engagement as well as SUD recovery (Cano, Best, Edwards, & Lehman, 2017; Hennessy, 2017; Laudet & White, 2008; Logan, Cole, & Walker, 2020). Based on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and other recent work recovery needs are classified into three categories for this study including: basic resources (e.g., economic resources), social status-related resources (e.g., employment, criminal justice system involvement, social support for recovery, safety), and personal resources (e.g., health and mental health, perceived efficacy in maintaining recovery) (Cano et al, 2017; Hennessy, 2017; Hobfall, 1989; Hobfall & Lilly, 1993; Laudet & White, 2008; Logan et al, 2020).…”

“…Stalking victimization is associated with increased mental health symptoms which tend to be long-term even after the stalking victimization has stopped (Logan, 2020, 2022a, 2022b; Logan & Landhuis, 2022a; Logan & Walker, 2010, 2017, 2021). As mentioned earlier, stalking victimization is associated with a loss of resources however, successfully addressing addiction requires resources so that an individual can focus on their SUD recovery (Davidson et al, 2010; Logan et al, 2020, 2022). In other words, when an individual is struggling to meet basic needs such as shelter, food, safety, and experiencing disconnection from friends and family, or experiencing mental health problems such as suicidality, anxiety or depression they may have greater difficulty with the tasks needed to address addiction (Browne et al, 2016; Lee et al, 2017; Padgett, Tiderington, Tran Smith, Derejko, & Henwood, 2016).…”