Treatment populations, services, and outcomes for cocaine and crack-cocaine dependence

This paper analyzes demographic and other pretreatment characteristics, mea sures of treatment services received, and treatment outcomes of participant s in the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES), a large-s cale longitudinal study of substance abuse treatment (D. R. Gerstein et al. , 1997; R. A. Johnson & D. R. Gerstein, 2000). The focus here is those trea ted primarily for cocaine powder or crack-cocaine dependence, compared with those in treatment for other substances, particularly heroin. Crack-depend ent users tend to be female and black, older than primary marijuana or alco hol users but younger than those in treatment for heroin. Primary cocaine p owder or crack users are likely to have entered treatment under pressure fi om the criminal justice system. After treatment there are substantial redu ctions in use of cocaine powder and crack, especially among participants wi th fewer prior treatment episodes and lower pretreatment intensity of use. Longer duration and intensity of treatment result in greater reductions in cocaine and crack use.