Days to treatment and early retention among patients in treatment for alcohol and drug disorders

Addict Behav. 2011 Jun;36(6):643-647. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.01.031. Epub 2011 Jan 28.

Abstract

Objectives: Drug and alcohol treatment programs often have long delays between assessment and treatment admission. The study examined the impact of days to treatment admission on the probability of completing four sessions of care within an addiction treatment program implementing improvements in their admission process.

Methods: Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to test the effect of wait time on retention in care.

Results: Findings demonstrate a strong decrement in the probability of completing four sessions of treatment with increasing time between the clinical assessment and first treatment session.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Patient Compliance
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Time Factors