Importance of identifying cocaine and alcohol dependent methadone clients.

Clients in outpatient methadone treatment (OMT) who abuse cocaine or alcohol are difficult to engage and retain in treatment. The impact a triple addiction to these drugs has on treatment was the focus of this study (N = 127). Admission characteristics, treatment response, and retention were compared among clients dependent on opiates only (O), opiates and alcohol (OA), opiates and cocaine (OC), or all three drugs (OAC). Findings indicate these groups differ in admission needs assessment, session attendance, issues discussed during treatment, and development of counselor rapport, with the OAC group being significantly more difficult to engage and retain in treatment.