Client preference-treatment congruence as a facilitator of length of stay: supporting an old truism.

Client-program congruence is studied for its association with clients' lengths-of-stay in community-based drug abuse treatment programs. Congruence, defined as the fit between clients' preferences for treatment program types and actual program placements, is highly associated with extended client lengths-of-stay in treatment. The results are discussed in terms of person-environment fit and attribution theory regarding perceived control, achievement, and success. Finally, discussion focuses on the use of the results to bring about changes in policy regarding the operation of the local community's system of services.