MAPPING-ENHANCED DRUG-ABUSE COUNSELING - URINALYSIS RESULTS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF METHADONE TREATMENT

Urinalysis (UA) tests for opiates and cocaine were obtained over a 12- month period for a total of 155 long-term clients who participated in treatment in one of three urban methadone centers. At admission, clien ts were randomly assigned to ''node-link mapping'' (n = 82) or ''stand ard'' (n = 73) counseling treatment. Node-link mapping is a strategy S or visually representing interrelationships between clients' ideas, fe elings, and experiences. These multirelational maps are developed (usu ally by counselors) during individual and group counseling sessions to clarify clients' issues and problems. The results revealed that (a),n apping clients had significantly fewer opiate-positive UAs during mont hs 2-6 of treatment and (b) session attendance was a significant predi ctor of cocaine-positive UAs over months 2-12 for mapping clients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.