Substance Use, Treatment, and Mental Health Among People Who Resolved an Addiction: Comparing Abstinent and Non-abstinent Individuals.

This article examines the characteristics of individuals who resolved an addiction within the past year, comparing those who are abstinent to those who continue non-abstinent substance use. Using an online survey of 267 adults with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, the study found that 45% were abstinent, with alcohol and opioids as the most common primary addictions. Abstinence was associated with greater treatment and mutual aid attendance and lower perceived addiction stigma, but not with differences in depression or anxiety symptoms when controlling for other factors. The findings suggest that abstinence may not be the defining feature of addiction resolution and highlight the need for addiction treatment and recovery support systems to better accommodate non-abstinent pathways. Future research is recommended to explore longitudinal patterns of substance use and mental health among diverse recovery trajectories.