Pathways to treatment retention for individuals legally coerced to substance use treatment: the interaction of hope and treatment motivation.

Background: Although several states have adopted policies diverting individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses to substance use treatment, in lieu of incarceration or as a condition of probation, previous research has produced inconsistent findings on the effectiveness of such programs when comparing outcomes for legally coerced individuals to more voluntary entrants. Less studied in these populations is within group variation in treatment expectations and motivation influences, which have been shown to affect retention as well.

Methods: As motivation has traditionally been viewed as contributing to treatment retention and higher levels of hope (the perception that goals can be met) are viewed as an asset in treatment, the role of these factors in predicting better retention between legally coerced and more voluntary clients were examined in a sample of 289 treatment admissions in California.

Health and health care disparities among homeless women.

While disparities in health and health care between vulnerable (e.g., minorities, low-income) and majority populations are well documented, less is known about disparities within these special populations that are large and diverse.

Ethnic identity, spirituality, and self-efficacy influences on treatment outcomes among Hispanic American methadone maintenance clients.

There is increasing concern over whether standard health care services, such as substance abuse treatment, adequately account for important cultural influences, yet studies focusing on the impact of cultural influences on substance abuse treatment continue to be limited. The current study prospectively examined the effects of two cultural factors (ethnic identity and spirituality) on substance abuse treatment outcomes among Hispanic American clients (N=114) enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment. In addition, this study examined whether a commonly studied treatment factor (i.

Are religiosity and spirituality useful constructs in drug treatment research?

Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) have been shown to be related to better outcomes in many health service areas, including drug abuse treatment. The latter area, however, lacks a fully emergent empirical framework to guide further study. Moreover, although scientists have tested isolated hypotheses, no comprehensive process model has been designed and validated, limiting conceptual development as well.

Longitudinal effects of LAAM and methadone maintenance on heroin addict behavior.

Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol maintenance (LAAM) was compared to methadone maintenance (MM) on the behavioral performance of 315 heroin addicts before, during, and after 12 months of fully subsidized treatment. Assessments of drug use, criminal behavior, HIV risk behaviors, and employment and residential status were obtained at treatment intake and at 6, 12, and 18 months after admission. Treatment retention and in-treatment suppression of heroin use were significantly better for the LAAM group than for the MM group.