Intravenous and non-intravenous cocaine abusers admitted to inpatient detoxification treatment: a 3-year medical-chart review of patient characteristics and predictors of treatment re-admission.
This naturalistic study examined the admissions and re-admissions of 341 intravenous (IV) and non-IV cocaine abusers over a 3-year period to an inpatient, hospital-based drug-and-alcohol detoxification treatment program. IV cocaine abusers reported higher rates of residential instability, unemployment, Hepatitis C, HIV and cirrhosis than non-IV cocaine abusers. In addition, IV cocaine abusers were administered more medical evaluative tests during treatment and accessed inpatient detoxification treatment more often during the 3-year study period. A Cox regression model demonstrated that residential instability and IV route of cocaine administration were significant predictors of inpatient detoxification re-admission. In light of the important differences between IV and non-IV cocaine-abusing groups, detoxification services should view route of cocaine administration as a key topic in treatment delivery and residential stability as an important topic in the discharge-and-referral process.
Callaghan
Russell C
RC
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 33 Russell St., Toronto, Ont., Canada M5S 3G3. russell_callaghan@camh.net
Cunningham
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000534:rehabilitation*