NCJ Number
182709
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 1997 Pages: 239-260
Date Published
1997
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the major findings from research that focused on therapeutic enhancements to methadone treatment.
Abstract
The Drug Abuse Treatment for AIDS-Risk Reduction (DATAR) project's purpose is to improve therapeutic interventions, increase treatment retention, and reduce relapse rates of Intravenous drug users in methadone treatment. The DATAR program of research focuses on therapeutic enhancement to methadone treatment administered by three multimodality community-based drug abuse treatment agencies. The therapeutic processes were enhanced by the addition of cognitive learning principles for improving communication in the counseling process, the provision of psycho-educational training materials, and the use of behavioral approaches for increasing treatment engagement. In addition, a project management system was created that provided clinical training and monitored counseling services, data collection, and agency performance. A total of 960 opiate drug users were admitted to 3 methadone treatment clinics participating in the DATAR project from April 1990 through August 1993. As part of the treatment admission process, a structured intake interview was conducted by a trained intake counselor. A series of during-treatment assessments was conducted at monthly intervals for each of the first 3 months after admission. A sample of clients was selected for 12-month posttreatment follow-up interviews. During-treatment performance and follow-up outcomes collected 1 year after discharge indicate that enhanced counseling and length of time in treatment were related to treatment outcomes. 4 figures and 67 references