Predictors of outpatient treatment retention: patient versus substance usecharacteristics

The present study examined predictors of participation and retention for pa tients treated at an urban, hospital-based outpatient substance abuse treat ment clinic. All patients were interviewed using the Addiction Severity Ind ex (ASI) at the time of admission. Based on lifetime diagnostic history of psychoactive substance abuse/dependence, patients (N = 268) were classified as: alcohol-only, drug(s)-only, and alcohol + drug(s). Alcohol-only patien ts were significantly older, more likely to be Caucasian, married, have les s than a high school education, and be employed than drug-only or alcohol/d rug patients. Using multiple regression analysis, substance use status did not predict treatment participation and retention, whereas race, gender and employment composite score were significant predictors. Specifically, pati ents attended more sessions and remained in treatment longer if they were C aucasian, male and had a high employment composite score. These findings su ggest that type of substance abuse may be overemphasized as a predictor of outpatient drug-free treatment retention, and that greater emphasis should be placed on tailoring treatment to patients' cultural, gender and vocation al needs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.