Distance traveled to outpatient drug treatment and client retention.
This study examined the association between approximate distance traveled to treatment, and treatment completion and length of stay, for 1,735 clients attending outpatient treatment in an urban area. Clients who traveled less than 1 mile were 50% more likely to complete treatment than clients who traveled more than 1 mile, after holding constant demographic variables and type of drug problem. Similarly, clients who traveled more than 4 miles were significantly more likely to have a shorter length of stay than clients who traveled less than 1 mile. These findings have important implications for the geographic placement of new treatment facilities, as well as the provision of transportation services to maximize treatment retention.
Beardsley
Kyle
K
Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), University of Maryland, 4321 Hartwick Rd, Suite 501, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
Wish
Eric D
ED
Fitzelle
Dawn Bonanno
DB
O'Grady
Kevin
K
Arria
Amelia M
AM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014195:Travel; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution