BACKGROUND: Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and lasting changes in the brain. Low quality of life may influence the substance craving, which leads to relapsing. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between beliefs in substance craving and quality of life among narcotics anonymous.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 202 narcotics anonymous in Kerman, southeastern Iran. Convenience sampling was used to select anonymous patients in the Narcotics Anonymous (NA) association in Kerman city. Narcotics anonymous completed the demographic questionnaire, the Craving Beliefs Questionnaire (CBQ), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Multiple linear regression model was used to determine the predictors of craving beliefs. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 22.
RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 38.48 ± 11.32 years. The majority of the samples were male (86.1%), married (65.4%), educated (93.6%) and urban (86.1%). The mean scores of craving beliefs and overall Quality of Life (QOL) were 77.58 ± 20.70 and 64.42 ± 23.13, respectively. Forty-two-point 1% had high level of craving beliefs. We found a significant negative and weak correlation between beliefs in substance craving, physical health domain (r = -0.16, p = 0.02), and overall quality of life (r = -0.15, p = 0.03). History of crack use, job, and physical health domain of QOL were predictors of beliefs in substance craving among the NAs.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, the participants had a high level of substance craving, and some aspects of the quality of life had an impact on the beliefs of addiction. However, it is necessary to conduct more studies in this field; psychological interventions and programs to increase the quality of life may reduce the substance craving.

Women with substance use disorder participate in women\'s only narcotics anonymous meetings. Therefore, this study aimed to discover the advantages and disadvantages of Iranian women\'s participation in this type of meetings. Accordingly, this research was done in Behboud Gostaran Hamgam Women\'s Rehab Center in Tehran. The research method was a qualitative method of grounded theory, and samples of the research were chosen by theoretical sampling method. Data was collected using in-depth, face-to-face, unstructured interviews and nonparticipation observations. First, 4 women with substance use disorder who had referred to the center to quit addiction were interviewed. The researcher then interviewed 2 informant groups of the center\'s medical staff, consisting of 2 social workers and 2 mentors with long-term experience in the field of women\'s addiction, and at the end of each interview, the interviews were analyzed. Finally, according to theoretical sampling principles and achieving saturation, the researcher participated in the women\'s only narcotics anonymous meetings, which were held weekly inside the center, and took notes on the content of the sessions in relation to the purpose of the study. After each session, the notes were analyzed and finally, after participating in 4 sessions, saturation was achieved by the researcher. By analyzing the research data, the theme of pros of participating in the women\'s only narcotics anonymous meetings, and the theme of cons of participating in the women\'s only narcotics anonymous meetings were yielded. Using the research findings could enhance the quality of these meetings.

Mutual aid organizations, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can provide support in substance use disorder (SUD) recovery processes. However, research on NA and its recovery-supportive elements is scarce and perspectives of NA-members remain understudied, in particular outside the US. Therefore, this study aims to gain insight into recovery-supportive elements of NA, as experienced by its members.
To explore the perspectives on and experiences with recovery-supportive elements in NA, 11 in-depth interviews with NA-members were conducted in Flanders (Belgium). Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed by using CHIME-D, a personal recovery framework (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning in life, Empowerment, Difficulties) developed by Leamy and colleagues in 2011.
Various recovery-supportive elements of NA were highlighted, with Connectedness as a key component including opportunities for building up a social network and for providing a safety net or sounding board. Elements that enabled Connectedness were 1) a non-judgemental approach, and 2) mutual understanding through sharing in NA. Other elements of the CHIME-D framework were less frequently mentioned, although these were inextricably linked to Connectedness.
Connectedness appeared to be the crucial recovery-supportive element in NA, emphasizing the relational character of SUD recovery. Although other elements of the CHIME-D framework were identified, these were closely related to and intertwined with the concept of connectedness.

OBJECTIVE: The integration of 12-Step philosophy and practices is common in adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, particularly in North America. However, although numerous experimental studies have tested 12-Step facilitation (TSF) treatments among adults, no studies have tested TSF-specific treatments for adolescents. We tested the efficacy of a novel integrated TSF.
METHODS: Explanatory, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial comparing 10 sessions of either motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive-behavioral therapy (MET/CBT; n = 30) or a novel integrated TSF (iTSF; n = 29), with follow-up assessments at 3, 6 and 9 months following treatment entry.
METHODS: Out-patient addiction clinic in the United States.
METHODS: Adolescents [n = 59; mean age = 16.8 (1.7) years; range = 14-21; 27% female; 78% white].
UNASSIGNED: The iTSF integrated 12-Step with motivational and cognitive-behavioral strategies, and was compared with state-of-the-art MET/CBT for SUD.
METHODS: Primary outcome: percentage days abstinent (PDA); secondary outcomes: 12-Step attendance, substance-related consequences, longest period of abstinence, proportion abstinent/mostly abstinent, psychiatric symptoms.
RESULTS: Primary outcome: PDA was not significantly different across treatments [b = 0.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.08 to 0.24, P = 0.33; Bayes\' factor = 0.28).
RESULTS: during treatment, iTSF patients had substantially greater 12-Step attendance, but this advantage declined thereafter (b = -0.87; 95% CI = -1.67 to 0.07, P = 0.03). iTSF did show a significant advantage at all follow-up points for substance-related consequences (b = -0.42; 95% CI = -0.80 to -0.04, P < 0.05; effect size range d = 0.26-0.71). Other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between treatments, but effect sizes tended to favor iTSF. Throughout the entire sample, greater 12-Step meeting attendance was associated significantly with longer abstinence during (r = 0.39, P = 0.008), and early following (r = 0.30, P = 0.049), treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Compared with motivational enhancement therapy/cognitive-behavioral therapy (MET/CBT), in terms of abstinence, a novel integrated 12-Step facilitation treatment for adolescent substance use disorder (iTSF) showed no greater benefits, but showed benefits in terms of 12-Step attendance and consequences. Given widespread use of combinations of 12-Step, MET and CBT in adolescent community out-patient settings in North America, iTSF may provide an integrated evidence-based option that is compatible with existing practices.