Predicting retention in a residential drug treatment alternative to prisonprogram

One hundred and fifty felony drug offenders diverted from prison to communi ty-based, residential drug treatment alternative to prison program complete d a comprehensive interview as part of a longitudinal study. Treatment comp letion predictors were sought examining intake data (demographics, family, social, employment, medical, psychological, criminal, sexual behavior, drug use and treatment histories). Logistic regression results found completers had more social conformity and close friends, and less need for employment counseling, felony drug convictions, drug dealing income, and unprotected sex than dropouts. Completers were also less likely to encounter recent pro blems with significant other, have a psychiatric history, experience gunsho t or stabbing, and commenced heroin use at older ages than dropouts. Howeve r, completers reported higher alcohol use than counterparts. Further analys es explored subcategory models: "life choice" (substance use, criminal and sexual behavior), static (background and dispositional), and dynamic situat ional influences (employ ment. psychological state, recent and past encount ers). Treatment implications considering findings are discussed. (C) 2000 E lsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.