INTRODUCTION: Retention in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP) is predictive of abstaining from heroin and has other benefits. Many individuals leave treatment before they experience these positive outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This research project targeted MMTP drop-outs with an intervention designed to assist them in returning to drug treatment. METHODS:Subjects who had left MMTP within the prior 12 months were randomly assigned to intervention or comparison groups. The 3-month long intervention consisted of street outreach, cognitive behavioral groups, and individual counseling. Data were analyzed for 175 subjects who were out of treatment at baseline and who returned for a 6-month follow-up interview (Intervention group, N=111; Comparison group, N=64). RESULTS: A total of 87% of subjects assigned to the intervention condition participated in at least one component. Intervention subjects who attended two or more cognitive behavioral group sessions were more likely than those who attended 0-1 sessions or those in the comparison group to have returned to treatment during the 6 month follow up time period (72 vs. 53 vs. 50%, respectively, P<0.05, chi square test). CONCLUSION:MMTP drop-outs need not be lost to the drug treatment system if special efforts are made to engage them in interventions developed to encourage treatment re-entry.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: Retention in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP) is predictive of abstaining from heroin and has other benefits. Many individuals leave treatment before they experience these positive outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This research project targeted MMTP drop-outs with an intervention designed to assist them in returning to drug treatment. METHODS: Subjects who had left MMTP within the prior 12 months were randomly assigned to intervention or comparison groups. The 3-month long intervention consisted of street outreach, cognitive behavioral groups, and individual counseling. Data were analyzed for 175 subjects who were out of treatment at baseline and who returned for a 6-month follow-up interview (Intervention group, N=111; Comparison group, N=64). RESULTS: A total of 87% of subjects assigned to the intervention condition participated in at least one component. Intervention subjects who attended two or more cognitive behavioral group sessions were more likely than those who attended 0-1 sessions or those in the comparison group to have returned to treatment during the 6 month follow up time period (72 vs. 53 vs. 50%, respectively, P<0.05, chi square test). CONCLUSION:MMTP drop-outs need not be lost to the drug treatment system if special efforts are made to engage them in interventions developed to encourage treatment re-entry.
Authors: Michael Kidorf; Elizabeth Disney; Van King; Ken Kolodner; Peter Beilenson; Robert K Brooner Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2005-07-13 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes; Suzanne Brissette; David C Marsh; Pierre Lauzon; Daphne Guh; Aslam Anis; Martin T Schechter Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2009-08-20 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes; Bohdan Nosyk; Suzanne Brissette; Jill Chettiar; Pascal Schneeberger; David C Marsh; Michael Krausz; Aslam Anis; Martin T Schechter Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2008-08-29 Impact factor: 3.671