Importance of identifying cocaine and alcohol dependent methadone clients

Clients in outpatient methadone treatment (OMT) who abuse cocaine or alcoho l are difficult to engage and retain in treatment. The impact a triple addi ction to these drugs has on treatment was the focus of this study (N = 127) . Admission characteristics, treatment response and retention were compared among clients dependent on opiates only (O) opiates and alcohol (OA) opiat es and cocaine (OC), or all three drugs (OAC). Findings indicate these grou ps differ in admission needs assessment, session attendance, issues discuss ed drug treatment, and development of counselor rapport, with the OAC group being significantly more difficult to engage and retain in treatment.