An evaluation of support assets in addiction recovery settings in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to identify and contrast the social support assets (family, neighborhood, school, community, general and abstinence-specific social support, social networks, and religious congregations) used by individuals in three types of substance abuse treatment settings in Kenya. The three types of settings were treatment centers using professional therapeutic staff, peer-led residential recovery settings, and home-based care with families. Specifically, we compared addiction severity and other problems using the Addiction Severity Index-Lite, the use of social networks using the Important People Inventory, the individual and community assets using the Asset Based Community Development scale, and perceived control using the Alcoholics Anonymous Intention Measure. Results indicated that there were few differences between settings in terms of treatment needs as measured by addiction severity or intentions to seek help. Participants in all three settings relied primarily on family and friends in their social networks reflecting the collectivistic Kenyan culture. Participants' behavioral control was related positivity to friends and family support for recovery. The implications of these findings are discussed.