PLANNED VERSUS ACTUAL DURATION OF DRUG-ABUSE TREATMENT - RECONCILING OBSERVATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL-EVIDENCE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the associations of planned v ersus actual duration of drug abuse treatment with psychosocial outcom es and drug use at follow-up. A randomized trial was conducted in a mo dified therapeutic community in which 444 clients were assigned to pro grams with planned durations of either 3 or 6 months. Outcomes were ps ychosocial measures assessing changes in mood and in stage of behavior change between admission and exit and return to drug use and patterns of use 2 to 6 months after exit. Planned duration was not associated with any of the outcomes. A longer actual length of stay was, however, associated with greater improvements in the mood variables; lower rat es of drug use at follow-up; and, among those using drugs at follow-up , a longer time fi om exit to first drug use. intention-to-treat analy ses supported these results. Randomized controlled trials are needed t o distinguish the effects of planned duration and actual length of sta y.