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Substance Abuse Relapse

Theory and Clinical Application

  • Chapter
Drug Abuse Treatment

Part of the book series: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Reviews ((DAAR,volume 4))

Abstract

Studies of substance abuse treatment effectiveness support the following generalizations1–5:

  1. 1

    During the first several months after treatment, most clients show reduced substance use and improvements in related life problems

  2. 2

    By the end of the first year of posttreatment, however, up to 75% of clients have engaged in some substance use, with a substantial proportion having returned to pretreatment levels of abuse

  3. 3

    Outcome assessments at different follow-up points typically yield subgroups of clients who have maintained abstinence or who have engaged in variable substance use ranging from nonproblem to problem use. Over time, individual clients often move from one outcome category to another

  4. 4

    The type of outcome achieved does not vary substantially with the type of treatment received (e.g., 12-Step or behavioral), the intensity of treatment (e.g., inpatient or outpatient), or the stated goals of treatment (e.g., abstinence or moderation drinking goals)

  5. 5

    Instead, treatment outcomes have a stronger relationship with client resources and environmental circumstances during the posttreatment period than with treatment-specific or client-intake characteristics.

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Authors
  1. Jalie A. Tucker
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  2. Rudy E. Vuchinich
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Ronald R. Watson

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Tucker, J.A., Vuchinich, R.E. (1992). Substance Abuse Relapse. In: Watson, R.R. (eds) Drug Abuse Treatment. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Reviews, vol 4. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0359-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0359-9_4

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