Objective To examine the benefit of adding an internet-delivered behavior therapy to a buprenorphine medication program and voucher-based motivational incentives. Method A block-randomized, unblinded, parallel, 12-week treatment trial was conducted with 170 opioid-dependent adult patients (mean age 34.3 years; 54.1% male; 95.3% white). Participants received an internet-based community reinforcement approach intervention plus contingency management (CRA+) and buprenorphine, or contingency management alone (CM-alone) plus buprenorphine. The primary outcomes, measured over the course of treatment, were longest continuous abstinence, total abstinence, and days retained in treatment. Results Compared to those receiving CM-alone, CRA+ recipients exhibited on average 9.7 total days more of abstinence, 95% CI: (2.3, 17.2), and had a reduced hazard of dropping out of treatment, Hazard Ratio (HR)=0.47; 95% CI: (0.26, 0.85). Prior treatment for opioid dependence significantly moderated the additional improvement of CRA+ for longest continuous days of abstinence. Conclusions These results provide further evidence that an internet-based CRA+ treatment is efficacious and adds clinical benefits to a contingency management/medication based program for opioid dependence.

The SAOM appears to be a reasonably reliable and valid self-report instrument when used to monitor substance abuse treatment among patients with a primary substance use diagnosis.

Background Methadone substitution therapy is an effective harm reduction treatment method for opioid dependent persons. Ability to retain patients in methadone treatment is an accepted predictor of treatment outcomes. Objectives The current study evaluates the roles of psychiatric comorbidity, medical comorbidity, and sociodemographic characteristics as predictors of retention in methadone treatment utilizing retrospective analysis of data from a nationwide sample of patients in methadone treatment in the VA. Methods Data were gathered using the VA’s national health services use database. A cohort of veterans with a new episode of “opiate substitution” in fiscal year 1999 was identified, and their continuous service use was tracked through fiscal year 2002. The sample included a total of 2,363 patients in 23 VA medical centers. Survival analysis was used to explore factors associated with retention in methadone treatment. Results Younger age, having a serious mental illness, being African American, or having race recorded as unknown were associated with lower rates of retention in methadone treatment programs in this population of veterans (controlling for site). Conclusion Given that extended methadone treatment is associated with improved outcomes while patients remain in treatment, more longitudinal studies using primary data collection are needed to fully explore factors related to retention. For the VA population specifically, further research is necessary to fully understand the relationship between race/ethnicity and treatment retention. Scientific Significance This is the first retention study the authors are aware of that utilizes data from a nationwide, multisite, population of participants in methadone treatment.

Aims Whether the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline at 200 mg/day delays relapse in recently abstinent cocaine dependent individuals Design 12-week, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 2-week residential stay followed by 10-wk outpatient participation Setting Veterans Affairs residential unit and outpatient treatment research program Participants Cocaine-dependent volunteers (N=86) with depressive symptoms (Hamilton score > 15), but otherwise no major psychiatric or medical disorder or contraindication to sertraline. Measurements Participants were housed on a drug-free residential unit (wks 1–2) and randomized to receive sertraline or placebo. Participants then participated on an outpatient basis during weeks 3–12 while continuing to receive study medication. Patients participated in a day substance abuse day treatment program during weeks 1–3 and underwent weekly cognitive behavioral therapy during weeks 4–12. The primary outcome measure was thrice-weekly urine results and secondary measure was Hamilton Depression scores. Findings Pre hoc analyses were performed on those who participated beyond week 2. Generally no group differences in retention or baseline characteristics occurred. Sertraline patients showed a trend toward longer time before their first cocaine-positive urine (“lapse,” χ2=3.67, p=0.056), went significantly longer before having two consecutive urine samples positive for cocaine (“relapse,” χ2=4.03, p=0.04) and showed significantly more days to lapse (26.1±3.2±10.5; z = 2.89, p=0.004) and relapse (21.3±10.8 vs 32.3±14.9; z=2.25, p=0.02). Depression scores decreased over time (F=43.43, p<0.0001), but did not differ between groups (F =0.09, p = 0.77). Conclusions Sertraline delays time to relapse relative to placebo in cocaine dependent patients who initially achieve at least two weeks of abstinence.