Relationship between treatment length and outcome in a therapeutic community.
The present study examines the association between treatment length and treatment outcome among drug users treated in a therapeutic community. The therapeutic community employed in the present study recently had been changed from a 6-month to a 1-month program by external administrative mandate, but had undergone virtually no other changes. Twenty-two subjects who received 6 months of treatment and 22 who received 1 month were compared. The 6-month group had more subjects with successful outcome. These results support previous studies associating longer treatment programs with better outcome.
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
J L
JL
Bleiberg
P
P
Devlin
J
J
Croan
R
R
Briscoe
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome