TREATMENT INTENSITY AND REDUCTION IN DRUG-USE FOR COCAINE-DEPENDENT METHADONE PATIENTS - A DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP

This study examined the impact of treatment intensity on cocaine use. Seventy-seven cocaine-using methadone patients were enrolled in a six- month, structured, manual-driven, cognitive-behavioral treatment progr am. Sessions consisted of five individual and/or group sessions per we ek. At intake subjects showed extensive polydrug abuse, psychiatric co morbidity, criminal histories, and HIV risk behaviors. Treatment inten sity was measured by dividing number of sessions attended into quartil es. Paired comparisons, within treatment quartiles, were made between subjects' intake and six-month self-reports of cocaine use. Subjects i n quartiles two through four showed significant reductions in frequenc y of cocaine use at follow-up, with subjects who received the most tre atment showing the greatest reductions in cocaine use. Bivariate and m ultivariate analyses showed that treatment sessions attended remained a strong predictor of reduction in cocaine use at follow-up, even afte r controlling for drug use at intake and background variables. The res ults indicate that there is a substantial treatment dose-response rela tionship.