Comiskey, Catherine and Stapleton, Robert (2010) Longitudinal outcomes for treated opiate use and the use of ancillary medical and social services. Substance Use & Misuse, 45, (4), pp. 628-641. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826080903452504.
Using an extended Maudsley Addiction Profile, 404 opiate users entering treatment across Ireland were interviewed at intake and at 1 year and 3 years between 2003 and 2006.
At 3 years clients were abstinent, in treatment, or relapsed. Analysis of lifetime use of treatment services revealed that greater proportions of those who were drug free at 3 years had counselling in the past. Multiple regression revealed that the number of previous treatment episodes had a significant positive effect on outcomes.
Findings are important during times of financial constraint when treatment providers are under pressure to cut back to core services.
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