Factors Associated with Frequent Utilization of Crisis Substance Use Detoxification Services

ABSTRACT

Previous research suggests that some substance users have multiple crisis detoxification visits and never access rehabilitation care. This care-seeking pattern leads to poorer outcomes and higher costs. The authors aimed to identify predictors of repeat detoxification visits by analyzing state-level data routinely collected at the time of substances use services admission. Repeat detoxification clients were more likely to be homeless, city-dwelling fee-for-service Medicaid recipients. Repeat detoxification clients were less likely than those with one admission to enter rehabilitation within 3 days. Treatment providers should aim for rapid transfer to rehabilitation and consider expanding detoxification intake data to improve risk stratification.

KEYWORDS:

• Substance use
• detoxification
• rehabilitation
• Medicaid
• homeless
• urban
• health costs

Acknowledgments

Supported in part by a grant from the CDC T01 CD000146.