Four successive randomized clinical trials studying contingency management (CM), involving various treatment arms of drug-abstinent housing and work therapy and day treatment (DT) with a behavioral component, were compared on common drug abstinence outcomes at 2 treatment completion points (2 and 6 months). The clinical trials were conducted from…

In this investigation, 3 adults who met criteria for marijuana dependence were treated using an abbreviated version of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The treatment was delivered in eight weekly 90-min individual sessions. The effects of the intervention were assessed using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design.…

Objective: This study is the first in a comprehensive examination of therapeutic components and outcome of interventions in a public, nonresidential service for drug addicts in Jerusalem (SHALEM). Method: Data were gathered from 153 clients (35 women, 128 men; 35 Arabs, 118 Jews; median age = 39) using clinical data mining. Results: Men who had…

One variation of contingency management involves providing vouchers with monetary value for the provision of a biological sample indicating no recent drug use. These vouchers can be exchanged for goods or services. The schedule with which the vouchers are disbursed has been studied and results suggest that those schedules that incorporate…

Illustrates the stimulus addiction chain experienced by a substance addicted person and recommends that substance abuse treatment agencies provide low-stimulus activity by controlling their use of high-stimulus structure and high-level recreational stimulus producers. Suggests quiet activities to help regulate stimulus and reinforce reflectiveness…

Assesses the relationship between discharge status and therapeutic outcomes after discharge from a residential treatment program for adolescents. Results of this study did not indicate superior outcomes for the planned discharge group. Several issues are raised regarding the use of discharge status as a performance indicator and recommendations…

Presents findings from a questionnaire in which inmates were queried regarding their perceptions of a residential substance abuse treatment program. Findings reveal that inmates enrolled in the first and/or third phase of the treatment tended to be more positive in their perception of program content, therapeutic atmosphere, and quality of…

The influence of program-related constructs on perceived quality of treatment programs was assessed using a latent variable modeling approach and the responses of key personnel from 294 drug treatment facilities in Los Angeles County (California). A clear philosophy and emphasis and greater frequency of services significantly predicted greater…

A clinical trial contrasted 2 interventions designed to link opioid-dependent hospital patients to drug abuse treatment. The 126 out-of-treatment participants were randomly assigned to (a) case management, (b) voucher for free methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), (c) case management plus voucher, or (d) usual care. Services were provided for 6…

Examines shock incarceration (short-term, boot-camp programs) to determine whether a self-reported history of drug use, supported by official data, is related to completion or failure in the program. Analysis of selected inmates (N=100) found no significant correlation between drug use and boot camp completion or failure. (RJM)

A statewide treatment outcomes monitoring system included baseline interviews with 387 adolescents and 363 parents representing 37 programs. This study examined adolescent and parent predictors of treatment completion and 6-month outcomes. Only 21.4% of the adolescents reported abstinence for the 6 months following treatment; however, marijuana…

Compliance during drug treatment reflects treatment engagement. Examines self-assessed compliance, behavioral compliance, and their influences, among adolescents in treatment. Stepwise logistic regression showed that desire for help was significantly related to more compliance. Discusses the implications of these findings for adolescent treatment…

Conducted a social policy experiment in 76 drug treatment organizations in Peru from 1997 to 2000. Programs were assigned to one of three training conditions. Positive effects were found for increased staff empowerment to use training tools and principles, and larger effects were found on the implementation of therapeutic community methods with…

Developed a comprehensive methodology for a series of process evaluations of seven therapeutic communities for drug-involved offenders. The methodology used stakeholder interviews, official measures of program implementation, and a new structured observation technique. Discusses the type and quality of information provided by each technique. (SLD)

Reviews the literature and describes the nature and feasibility of brief interventions in the treatment of alcohol use disorders. Attention is given to the promising results of outcome studies, and recommendations are provided for the implementation of brief interventions with a heterogeneous clientele. (Contains 39 references.) (GCP)