Treatment pathways and longitudinal outcomes for opiate users: Implications for treatment policy and planning

Abstract

The aim is to model treatment pathways and outcomes of opiate users at intake and at 1- and 3-year follow-up and to assess the implications of these for treatment policy. Opiate users entering a new treatment episode were recruited. Tree diagrams were used to map treatment relapse and re-entry. A within subjects repeated measures analyses of variance was conducted on each of the outcomes. The effect of being in treatment at 1-year on the 3-year outcomes was measured controlling for the value of the outcome variable at intake. A total of 404 opiate users were recruited. Follow-up interview rates were 88.4% at 3-years. Three years after intake 15% were drug free, 70% were in treatment and 15% were not in treatment and were using illegal drugs. Analysis revealed that there were no differences between the three outcome groups at intake. Those who were not in treatment and using at 3-years had displayed little improvement at 1-year and those who were not in treatment and not using at 3-years had displayed improvements in physical and mental health outcomes at 1-year. Regardless of treatment modality, treatment policy needs to reflect, support and encourage individuals during the treatment relapse cycle.