Redefine Snitching: Addressing Learned Cultural Behaviors that Impact Substance Use Recovery

Purpose: Understanding the factors impacting communication between residents and peer staff in peer-run residential substance abuse treatment programs. The purpose of this paper is to explore male survival behaviors and cultural norms such as no snitching that impede communication to prevent relapse. Methods: The sample was male residents accepted into a residential treatment facility in the southwestern United States. Stories of peer-staff’s personal struggles with the no snitching code videotaped and shown in group followed with a guided discussion of relapse triggers, communication, and behavior norms that impede treatment. An online confidential pre-post retrospective survey designed using the Drug Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Descriptive statistics run show Cronbach's alpha of 0.96. A two-tailed paired samples t-test was conducted to examine the Overall Confidence Pre-test and Post-test mean difference. The overall confidence post-test was not statistically significant, but it was clinically significant. Clinical significance evidenced by residents 3-point lower confidence post-intervention. Conclusions: How-to elicit behavior change is unique to every individual. The goal is behavior change to sustain recovery and better communication between clients and peer staff to prevent relapse.