AIMS:
The study examined the relationship between continued nonmedical drug use and treatment retention for patients receiving buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) in a comprehensive addiction treatment program.
RESULTS:
Newly admitted patients testing positive for drugs more than 33% of the time were significantly more likely than those with less frequent or no positive tests to withdraw from treatment within two months. Continuing patients with at least one positive drug test left treatment six months sooner, on average, than those with no positive tests and were twice as likely to leave without
completing continuing care (87% to 42%).
CONCLUSION:
Nonprescribed drug use during BMT is strongly correlated with lowered retention and risk of early treatment termination for new and continuing patients. Actions taken to monitor and reduce drug use during BMT may improve retention and enhance long-term recovery outcomes.
The abstract is available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26757093
Source: Journal of Addictive Disorders – January 2016
