PRESENTING PROBLEMS OF SUBSTANCE-ABUSERS IN TREATMENT - IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY AND ATTRITION

This study used the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) to identify the var ious problems Substance abuse clients present when seeking treatment a t a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Sample was 98% male and 73% African-American, with a mean age of 37 years. Cluster an alysis Was used to identify commonalities and divergences in self-repo rted employment, legal, family, substance abuse, psychological, and me dical problems. Four distinct clusters emerged, each of which could be characterized by a dysfunctional pattern. The utility of this approac h in designing treatment regimens, addressing client problems in addit ion to their substance abuse, increasing client satisfaction with serv ice provided, and decreasing treatment attrition is discussed.