Comparing outcomes for alcohol and drug abuse clients: A 6-month follow-up of clients who completed a residential treatment programme

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of an in-patient addiction treatment program and whether client-related treatment outcomes were moderated by addiction type: (1) alcohol only; (2) cocaine only or with alcohol; (3) cocaine with other substances; and (4) prescription drugs and/or cannabis. Clients completed self-reports of their substance use and quality of life during their first week in treatment and at 6-months post-discharge. Pre-treatment motivation and post-treatment aftercare attendance were also assessed. Overall, a positive impact of the addiction treatment programme was noted as clients reported a significant reduction in substance use and improvement in quality of life. Results also demonstrated that drug of choice impacted recovery status such that compared with cocaine poly substance clients, alcohol clients obtained significantly higher scores on quality of life measures at both pre- and 6-months post-treatment. However, cocaine poly substance clients were also significantly younger than alcohol only clients and were less likely to be married or employed. In general, substance use clients responded well to treatment. Some variability was noted among substance use groups—namely that cocaine poly-drug users obtained lowest levels of post-treatment reduction in substance use. The implications of such findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• Alcohol
• drug
• treatment outcome