STAY IN RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND MENTAL-HEALTH-CARE AS PREDICTORS OF READMISSION FOR PATIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Qbjectives: This study examined the relationship between substance abu se patients' length of stay in community residential facilities and th eir outpatient mental health aftercare and readmission for inpatient c are. Methods: A national sample of 1,070 substance abuse patients refe rred to community residential facilities after an episode of inpatient care was assessed and followed over four years. Patients were divided into three groups: those with only alcohol-related diagnoses; those w ith drug-related diagnoses, most of whom also had alcohol diagnoses; a nd those with concomitant psychiatric diagnoses. Results: Patients who had longer episodes of care in residential facilities were more likel y to obtain outpatient mental health aftercare and were less likely to be readmitted for additional substance abuse or psychiatric care in s ix-month, one-year, and four-year follow-up intervals. Readmission rat es among substance abuse patients with psychiatric diagnoses were much higher than rates among patients who had only substance abuse diagnos es. Length of stay in the community residential facility and postdisch arge outpatient mental health care remained significant independent Pr edictors of lower readmission after other risk factors for readmission were considered. Conclusions: Transitional community residential care can contribute to substance abuse patients' treatment outcome; howeve r, longer-term supportive care is needed for substance abuse patients with more severe and chronic disorders.