Despite these limitations, the current study expands the knowledge gained from previous investigations. The results of this study indicate that the majority of individuals with nicotine, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine dependence achieve remission at some point in their lives, although the probability and time to remission vary by drug and racial/ethnic group. Although there are no common predictors of remission across all four substances, several of these predictors were shared by at least two substances, suggesting that the processes of remission overlap, but are not identical. The lower rates of remission among individuals with comorbid PD or dependence on other drugs identified in this study highlight the need to recognize biological and social mechanisms that interfere with recovery from substance dependence, strengthen preventive efforts, particularly among vulnerable population subgroups, and provide coordinated psychiatric and substance abuse interventions.
