| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328755 | Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment | 2015 | 5 Pages |
•In opioid detoxification patients, 96% desired some form of aftercare treatment.•Forty-three percent selected medication-assisted treatment, and 29% selected residential.•Residential preference associated with homelessness, past year detox, legal problems.
Without aftercare treatment, the period following discharge from short-term inpatient detoxification for opioid dependence presents a high risk of relapse. Yet the role of patient preference in treatment selection is rarely discussed in the substance-abuse literature. We surveyed 485 persons initiating inpatient opioid detoxification who were predominantly male (71.3%) and had detoxed in the past (73.2%). When asked to choose the one treatment that would work best for them after discharge, 43% of participants selected medication-assisted treatment (MAT), 29% preferred residential, 12% selected drug-free counseling, 12% NA/AA meetings only, and 4% preferred no additional treatment. Residential treatment preference was significantly associated with homelessness, having been in a detox program within the past year, and having pending legal problems, indicating that there is a distinct profile of detox patients who prefer residential treatment despite its limited availability. Detox program staff should work with patients to understand reasons for treatment preferences to optimize aftercare services.
