Alcohol and Drug Abusers' Perceived Reasons for Self-Change in Canada and Switzerland: Computer-Assisted Content Analysis

Author(s)

Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Harald K. Klingemann, Bern University of Applied Sciences
Tony Toneatto, University of Toronto
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Sangeeta Agrawal, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Gloria I. Leo, Canadian Addiction Research Foundation

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Substance Use and Misuse

ISSN

1082-6084

Publication Date

9-1-2001

Abstract

Although many people recover from substance-use associated problems on their own, little is known about this phenomenon. The paper had two objectives: to use a new research method, computer-assisted content analysis, to understand alcohol and drug abusers' perceived reasons for self-change and to undertake a comparative evaluation across substances and cultures to validate previous findings about subjective appraisal processes. Three studies of natural recoveries of alcohol and drug abusers in two countries conducted tape-recorded interviews with 216 respondents. The taped responses were coded based on a content analytic dictionary approach using a computerized content analysis program. All three studies found several processes mediating the decision to change substance use. The computer content analysis confirmed a cognitive appraisal process regardless of the cultural setting or substance. The findings suggest that several procedures might have benefit in clinical interventions.

DOI

10.1081/JA-100106960

Volume

36

Issue

11

First Page

1467

Last Page

1500

NSUWorks Citation

Sobell, L. C., Klingemann, H. K., Toneatto, T., Sobell, M. B., Agrawal, S., Leo, G. I. (2001). Alcohol and Drug Abusers' Perceived Reasons for Self-Change in Canada and Switzerland: Computer-Assisted Content Analysis. Substance Use and Misuse, 36(11), 1467-1500.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/601