A PILOT-STUDY OF CLIENT PROGRESS IN SHORT-TERM DRUG-ABUSE TREATMENT

This paper is a pilot study of client progress in two short-term (28-d ay) drug abuse treatment programs. Client progress is defined as those changes in cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, and social su pport resources that are the proximate goals of drug abuse treatment. In this study, client progress was measured by changes in cognitive fu nctioning, emotional well-being, and social support domains over the c ourse of treatment. This pilot study showed that client progress can b e detected in shea-term treatment and can be related to indicators of the quantity and quality of treatment. In general, results showed that both relationships and emotional well-being changed over the course o f treatment. Cognitive functioning variables did not generally change over time, nor were they related to indicators of treatment quality. E vidence in this pilot study suggests that more attention needs to be g iven to the relational and emotional aspects of the drug abuse treatme nt process.