LEGAL PRESSURE AND TREATMENT RETENTION IN A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

This study examined the association between legal pressure and treatme nt retention in a national sample of 2,605 clients admitted to 18 long -term residential facilities that participated in the Drag Abuse Treat ment Outcome Study (DATOS). Hierarchical linear models were used to as sess the relationship of background factors and legal pressure with tr eatment participation for 90 days or longer. Two thirds of the sample entered residential treatment with moderate to high pressure from lega l authorities, and they were significantly more likely than the low-pr essure clients to stay 90 days or more. Moreover, the difference in re tention between moderate-to-high- and low-pressure clients was even gr eater in programs with proportionally larger caseloads under legal sur veillance. The criminal justice system (CJS) can influence treatment p articipation and retention, and it appears essential for the CJS and t reatment programs to maintain an open and constructive relationship to maximize their potential combined impact.