Patterns of illicit drug use and retention in a XXXX program: a longitudinal study.

@entity1 @entity284
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze illicit drug use of @entity1 in a @entity284 treatment program in relation to @entity284 dose, counseling, and retention. METHODS: This was a longitudinal study of a cohort of 204 heroin-dependent subjects admitted for the first time to a @entity284 program in Stockholm. The @entity1 were admitted between 1995 and mid-2000 and were followed until December 2000 or discharge. Up to June 11, 1998, individual psychosocial counseling was provided; after this date individual counseling was replaced with group counseling. Clinical data were collected from @entity1 records and from a laboratory database. Rates of drug-positive urine analyses during different time periods were measured. RESULTS: The mean observation time was 2.5 years for all @entity1 . The one-year retention rate was 84 percent, and the two-year rate was 65 percent, with no major differences between the two counseling groups. Almost all @entity1 relapsed to illicit drug use. Discharged @entity1 had a significantly higher rate of positive urine samples (21 percent versus 9 percent) than @entity1 who remained in treatment. Also, low @entity284 dose and younger age predicted discharge from treatment. CONCLUSION: The frequent urine monitoring showed that illicit drug use was rather common, even in a program with structured psychosocial interventions, although it was lower than in other studies. This testing policy can be used for early identification of @entity1 at risk for drop-out or discharge who should be offered complementary interventions.
