ABSTRACT
This study examined the admission characteristics associated with failure to complete residential substance abuse treatment among male adolescents. Of 160 admissions, 48 (30%) completed treatment. Having commercial health insurance (P= .005), having a family history of a substance use disorder (P= .05), and living with only one biological parent (P= .015) were admission characteristics associated with non-completion. Those reporting a history of physical or sexual abuse also appeared to be at risk for non-completion (P= .014); none of these participants completed the treatment. Interventions that improve residential substance abuse treatment retention for adolescents are needed.
The study was supported by a scholarship from the Center for Development of Human Services (CDHS) Research Foundation awarded to Anne Neumann and Paula Yanes, and a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA; K23AA015616) awarded to Richard D. Blondell The authors thank Angela Wisniewski, PharmD, and Andrew Danzo for their assistance.