title: Strategies for follow-up of drug users: field research guidelines.
abstract: The timely follow-up of clients who exited from two residential treatment programs was achieved by the consistent application of the described strategies. The enrollment and treatment phases of the study provided the environment for the use of standard follow-up and enhanced outreach methods. The applicability of the strategies to a variety of settings makes the prioritization of the follow-up methods presented a meaningful one. The role of the researcher in the reevaluation of follow-up protocols within an ethical context is discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spotts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hindin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gribauskas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome