Drug abuse treatment entry and engagement: Report of a meeting on treatment readiness

Abstract

Although the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment has been demonstrated repeatedly, many drug abusers do not enter treatment, many who do enter leave prematurely, and relapse following treatment is common. To further research treatment entry and engagement, the National Institute on Drug Abuse convened scientists representing diverse research traditions in December 1996. This article summarizes meeting presentations and recommendations. Presentations focused on treatment readiness/motivation for change, ethnographic reports of drug abusers' perceptions of and attitudes toward treatment, and reports on alternative treatments for high-risk drug abusers. Recommendations focused on the potential contribution of qualitative research, integration of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, development of flexible treatment approaches that are cognizant of patients' life circumstances, and services research to improve the organization and delivery of drug abuse treatment.

Persistent Antagonism of Methamphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in Rats Pretreated with GBR12909 Decanoate

“…Stimulant dependence, like other substance use disorders, is a chronic relapsing disease. Methamphetamine addicts in treatment are often poorly compliant and have high drop-out rates (Battjes et al, 1999;Maglione et al, 2000). Similar problems with schizophrenic patients have been addressed in part by the development of long-acting depot preparations of antipsychotic medications, such as haloperidol decanoate (Davis et al, 1993).…”

“…There are numerous obstacles to successful treatment of stimulant-dependent patients, including high drop-out rates and lack of compliance with medication regimens (Battjes et al, 1999). To circumvent issues of patient noncompliance, we developed a long-acting depot formulation of GBR12909, 1-[2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl) piperazinyl decanoate, or GBR-decanoate, that can be administered as a single i.m.…”

Engaging resistant adolescents in drug abuse treatment

“…When drug-abusing youth enter treatment, they generally do so in response to external pressures from families, schools or employers, or the legal system (Battjes, Onken, & Delany, 1999) and without external pressure, treatment entry is unlikely. Although the juvenile justice system is a primary source of entry into treatment, as few as 20% of adolescents in need of treatment in the past year had an arrest (DHHS, 2002).…”

Comorbidade entre dependência de substâncias psicoativas e transtornos alimentares: perfil e evolução de mulheres em um tratamento específico para dependência química

“…Estereótipos de maior agressividade, tendência à promiscuidade, falhas no cumprimento do papel familiar estão mais comumente associadas às mulheres que aos homens dependentes (Brady et al, 1993;Hochgraf, 1995;Turner et al, 1998;Zilberman, 1998;Battjes et al, 1999). Essa associação, pelo menos no que diz respeito ao álcool, vem de longa data.…”

“…Se a queixa indireta dificulta o diagnóstico, a falta de treinamento específico das equipes básicas de saúde, acentua o problema (Hochgraf, 1995;Battjes et al, 1999). Vários estudos apontaram o quanto o consumo de álcool e o diagnóstico de alcoolismo e/ou abuso de drogas nas mulheres são ignorados em serviços médicos gerais (Awad, Wattis, 1990;Blume, 1990;Spak, 1996;Grella, Joshi, 1999).…”