Immediate Effects on Therapeutic Group Drumming on Affective States in Inpatient Substance Abusers

Traditionally, substance abuse treatment centers operate from a structured multi-dimensional treatment approach that includes individual and group therapy with a possible combination of medication if warranted (NIDA, 2018). Forty to sixty percent of individuals that complete a substance abuse treatment program return to actively using again with a year (McLellan, Lewis, O’Brian, Kleber, 2000). In order to better reach clients and ensure full term treatment, centers are incorporating various alternative techniques such as yoga, animals, music and art therapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a drum therapy protocol at substance-use clinics. Thirty-three participants from inpatient substance abuse facilities completed three questionnaires examining social interest, stage of change and affective mood. At the beginning of the study, participants completed a group therapy intervention. Next, participants were assigned into a control or experimental group. Those in the experimental group participated in a group drumming intervention, whereas the control group participated in a motivational interviewing. At the end of each stage of the stage, participants completed a quick mood scale. At the end of the study, all participants returned to complete a drum session together. We hypothesize that the drumming intervention will improve affective mood states that will be moderated as function by the participant’s social interest and their level of stage of change in treatment.