Our Research
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery Research / Behavioral Psychology
A Serial Mediation Analysis of Delay Discounting and Remission in Substance Use Disorders Recovery
This study investigates the mechanisms that support or hinder recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). Specifically, it examines how delay discounting (DD), the tendency to prefer smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed ones, relates to three-month remission.
Key Findings:
Craving alone is the strongest mediator on remission efforts.
Cannabis and Substance Use Recovery
Cannabis Use and Beliefs Among People in Recovery From Substance Use Disorders
This study examined cannabis use and beliefs among people recovering from substance use disorders. Current cannabis users viewed cannabis as safer, more acceptable, more beneficial, and less addictive than former or never-users.
Key Findings:
Of 507 participants, 35.9% currently used cannabis and 51.3% formerly used it.
Current users reported more therapeutic use and more favorable beliefs about cannabis.
All groups considered cannabis less addictive than alcohol, cigarettes, and cocaine.
Participants with mild cannabis use disorder perceived cannabis as less addictive than those with severe cannabis use disorder.
Substance Use and Recovery Research
Celebrating each success: proportion of remission as a measure of recovery from polysubstance use disorder proportion of remission; a recovery measure
Recovery from polysubstance use disorder is not always all-or-nothing. This study introduces “proportion of remission,” a measure that recognizes progress across multiple substance use disorders, and finds that greater remission is associated with better physical, psychological, social, and environmental quality of life.
Key Findings:
Among 2,406 people with a history of polysubstance use disorders, a greater proportion of disorders in remission was associated with better physical, psychological, social, and environmental quality of life.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery Research / Behavioral Health
Perceptual Heterogeneity: Cannabis Use and Beliefs within the Recovery Community
This study explores the prevalence of cannabis use and the subjective beliefs held by individuals in recovery regarding its safety, benefits, and addictiveness.
Key Findings:
Divergent Beliefs: Current and former users hold much more favorable views of the social acceptability and safety of cannabis compared to those who have never used it.
Specific Risk Perceptions: Former users were the most likely to believe cannabis causes impaired memory and increases in stress or anxiety, likely drawing from their past negative experiences.
Proportion of Remission in Polysubstance Recovery
Measuring Recovery with Proportion of Remission
This article introduces proportion of remission as a more nuanced way to measure recovery across substances.
Key Findings:
Proportion of remission captures partial recovery more effectively than binary abstinence measures.
Pain, Decision-Making & Recovery
Pain Catastrophizing and Recovery Quality of Life
This article examines how pain catastrophizing and delay discounting relate to quality of life in substance use disorder recovery.
Key Findings:
Greater delay discounting was associated with greater pain catastrophizing, which contributed to poorer quality of life in recovery.
Quit Attempts & Recovery
Quit Attempts and Substance Use Cessation
This article investigates how many quit attempts may be needed before successful substance use cessation.
Key Findings:
Quit attempts varied by substance, severity, years of use, and age of onset; opioids and pain medication required more attempts.
Health Behaviors & Recovery
Future Thinking and Health Behaviors
This article explores how valuing future rewards influences health behaviors among individuals in recovery.
Key Findings:
Greater focus on future rewards is linked to healthier behaviors and better lifestyle decisions.
Sleep, Stress & Recovery
Sleep, Stress, and Recovery Quality of Life
This article explores how sleep quality and perceived stress relate to discounting and quality of life in substance use recovery.
Key Findings:
Sleep was associated with delay discounting, while stress was linked with multiple quality-of-life domains.
Recovery and Quality of Life
Impulsivity and Recovery Outcomes
This article examines how impulsivity and decision-making relate to recovery outcomes and overall quality of life.
Key Findings:
Lower impulsivity is associated with better recovery outcomes and higher quality of life.
Recovery and Risk of Relapse
Decision-Making and Relapse Risk
This article looks at how decision-making tendencies are associated with relapse risk over time.
Key Findings:
Lower valuation of future rewards is linked to higher relapse risk over time.
Recovery and Self-Efficacy
Self-Efficacy and Recovery Success
This article examines how confidence in maintaining abstinence relates to decision-making and recovery outcomes.
Key Findings:
Lower self-efficacy is associated with more impulsive decision-making and poorer recovery outcomes.
Recovery and Family History
Family History and Recovery Risk
This article investigates how family history of addiction relates to decision-making patterns and recovery risk.
Key Findings:
A stronger family history of addiction is associated with higher impulsivity and greater risk.