Examining neurobehavioral differences that support success in recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are brain disorders associated with impairments resulting from the recurrent use of alcohol, drugs, or both. Though recovery is possible, SUDs are chronic, relapsing-remitting disorders, with estimates of SUD relapse at 40-60%. Currently, we know little about the mechanisms underlying successful recovery processes and whether substance-specific mechanisms exist. The current study sought to examine delay discounting (a measure of future valuation), executive skills, abstinence duration, and health behaviors in a population of individuals in recovery from alcohol, stimulants, opioids, and other substances.

In this observational study, we utilized a cohort of individuals (n = 238) from the International Quit and Recovery Registry, an online registry for those in recovery from SUDs around the world. We assessed delay discounting through a neurobehavioral task, and assessed abstinence duration, executive skills, and engagement in positive health behaviors through self-report measures.

We found that delay discounting, executive skills, and engagement in positive health behaviors were similar among individuals in recovery from different substances. Abstinence duration was associated with delay discounting and engagement in health behaviors. Additionally, executive skills and engagement in health behaviors were positively associated.

These findings suggest that common behavioral mechanisms support recovery from misuse of various substances. As both delay discounting and executive skills are dependent upon executive brain centers, such as the prefrontal cortex, strategies that target executive functioning, such as episodic future thinking, meditation, or exercise, may be efficient strategies for optimizing recovery from SUDs.