Search research articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Older Former Prisoners' Pathways to Sobriety.

Jessica J Wyse¹

¹VA Portland Healthcare System, 3010 SW US Veteran's Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239.

Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly

|January 30, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Predictors and Processes of Early Buprenorphine Discontinuation: Study Protocol.

Substance use & addiction journal·2026

Same author

A Pilot Evaluation of a Telemedicine Pharmacist-Physician Management Model to Increase Access to Medication for Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders for Rural Veterans.

The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association·2026

Same author

A Buprenorphine Pocket Card and Tool Kit Tailored to Palliative Care Clinicians: An Education and Implementation Cohort Study.

Journal of palliative medicine·2026

Same author

Explaining Variation in VA Opioid Treatment Program Clinical Practice Following Regulatory Reform: A Qualitative Study.

Substance use & addiction journal·2026

Same author

Patterns of Felt Stigma Among Rural-Dwelling People Who Use Drugs: A Latent Class Analysis.

Substance use & misuse·2025

Same author

Perceptions of Women With Comorbid PTSD and Substance Use Disorder on Mechanisms Underlying Mindfulness-Based Interventions.

Cognitive and behavioral practice·2025

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Older age facilitates substance abuse cessation in formerly incarcerated men through reflection and a fear of dying in prison. This "Sober Aged Reflection" promotes cognitive shifts and new life goals, aiding sustained sobriety.

Area of Science:

Criminology
Gerontology
Public Health

Background:

Substance abuse and incarceration disproportionately affect older adults.
Understanding cessation processes in this demographic is crucial for effective reentry programs.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how older age influences substance abuse cessation among recently released male prisoners.
To identify age-related factors that support or hinder sobriety post-incarceration.

Main Methods:

Semi-structured in-depth interviews and brief surveys with 15 men aged 49+ recently released from prison.
Conventional content analysis to interpret qualitative data from initial and follow-up interviews.

Main Results:

Aging was central to narratives of achieving and maintaining sobriety.

Keywords:

aging incarceration prisoner reentry substance abuse cessation

Related Experiment Videos

Forced prison detoxification facilitated reflection, leading to cognitive change termed 'Sober Aged Reflection'.

Heightened mortality awareness and fear of dying in prison motivated sobriety and crime rejection. Changed identities and goals also supported cessation.

Conclusions:

Older age provides unique cognitive and motivational factors for substance abuse cessation among formerly incarcerated men.
'Sober Aged Reflection' is a key phenomenon linking aging, reflection, and sustained sobriety.
Interventions should leverage age-related factors like mortality awareness and identity shifts for successful reentry and recovery.