Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery in Ethiopia

Abstract

Alcohol overuse and abuse is a global challenge; not just a problem in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA [1]. This study attempted to understand the lived experiences of six Ethiopian recovering persons recovering from alcohol use disorder and to offer a multicultural view of recovery. The country of Ethiopia has problems with substance use and overuse. Alcohol and khat leaves (Catha edulis) are widely abused substances that cause people to seek psychiatric treatments [2-6]. CSA & ICF International [12] reported the prevalence of alcohol use in 53% of men and 45% of women in Ethiopia. Additionally, the WHO [8] revealed that 9.3 percent of Ethiopians practice heavy and hazardous drinking. In many developing countries like Ethiopia, there are alcohol overuse patterns. Patel V [10] described developing countries’ drinking patterns as hazardous, heavily gendered towards men, high-risk and often manifested through drinking alone and binging. Access to use is a cultural phenomenon in Ethiopia given that drinking on holidays and during festivals is socially acceptable; people can easily get homebrewed drinks or buy from liquor stores mostly without age restrictions. Across all cultures overuse of alcohol and other drugs is often associated with physical, mental, economic, and social negative consequences [11-14]. In some studies, substance overuse is associated with crime, anti-social behaviors, unemployment, lost occupational productivity, HIV/AIDS, early childhood traumas, and personal and family problems [15-21]. There is considerable research on how recovery from substance overuse and abuse is achieved. For instance, research results reveal Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to be an effective treatment for a wide range of overuse of substances [22-25]. Strategies as prayer in AA have been found correlated with reductions in cravings [26]. Other research findings suggest the effectiveness of various individual and group interventions such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Dutra et al, 2008), mindfulness-based interventions Witkiewitz K, et al. [27], and family-based substance abuse treatment [28]. In addition, research supports numerous factors that support recovery such as cultural background Pruett JM, et al [29], spiritual perspectives Warren J [30], and exposure to people with substance abuse disorders [31].