Changes in use of crack cocaine after drug misuse treatment: 4-5 year follow-up results from the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS).
Crack cocaine outcomes at 4-5 years are reported for 496 drug users recruited from UK treatment programmes. About one-third used crack at intake and at 4-5 years. The results show different outcome profiles. For crack users at intake, use was more than halved at follow-up. Among non-crack-users at intake, about a quarter used crack during follow-up, of whom about two-thirds had never used crack before. Polydrug use and use of other stimulants were associated with using crack. Crack users reported worse acquisitive crime and psychological health outcomes. About 10% reported injecting crack. The reductions in crack use are encouraging, but the onset of crack use among many non-users at intake suggests the need to develop more effective treatment interventions.
Gossop
Michael
M
National Addiction Centre, The Maudsley/Institute of Psychiatry, 4 Windsor Walk, SE5 8AF, London, UK. m.gossop@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Marsden
John
J
Stewart
Duncan
D
Kidd
Tara
T
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016578:Crack Cocaine