Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of drug abuse treatment in Peru that used the therapeutic community (TC) model. Program directors and several staff members from all study treatment facilities received two to eight...

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Main Authors: Browne Thom, Shamblen Steve, Vanderhoff Jude, Young Linda, Pan Zhenfeng, Johnson Knowlton, Linfield Ken, Suresh Geetha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-12-01
Series:Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Online Access:http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/26
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author Browne Thom
Shamblen Steve
Vanderhoff Jude
Young Linda
Pan Zhenfeng
Johnson Knowlton
Linfield Ken
Suresh Geetha
author_facet Browne Thom
Shamblen Steve
Vanderhoff Jude
Young Linda
Pan Zhenfeng
Johnson Knowlton
Linfield Ken
Suresh Geetha
author_sort Browne Thom
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of drug abuse treatment in Peru that used the therapeutic community (TC) model. Program directors and several staff members from all study treatment facilities received two to eight weeks of in-country training on how to implement the TC treatment model prior to the follow-up study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This outcome study involved 33 TC treatment facilities and 509 former clients in Lima and other cities in five providences across Peru. A retrospective pre-test (RPT) follow-up design was employed in which 30-day use of illegal drugs and alcohol to intoxication was measured at baseline retrospectively, at the same time of the six-month follow-up. In-person interview data were collected from directors of 73 percent of the eligible TC organizations in January and February 2003 and from former 58 percent of the eligible TC former clients between October 2003 and October 2004. Drug testing was conducted on a small sample of former clients to increase the accuracy of the self-reported drug use data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Medium to large positive treatment effects were found when comparing 30-day illegal drug and alcohol use to intoxication before and six months after receiving treatment. As a supplemental analysis, we assumed the 42 percent of the former clients who were not interviewed at the six month assessment had returned to drugs. These results showed medium treatment effects as well. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) results showed higher implementation fidelity, less stigma after leaving treatment, and older clients, singly or in combination are key predictors of treatment success.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study found that former clients of drug and alcohol treatment in facilities using the TC model reported substantial positive change in use of illegal drugs and alcohol to intoxication at a six-month follow-up. The unique contribution of this study is that the results also suggest attention should be placed on the importance of implementing the TC drug abuse treatment model with fidelity. Further, the results strongly suggest that TC drug abuse treatment programs should incorporate follow-up activities that attempt to neutralize community negative reactions (perceived stigma) independent of other factors.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-c8502848346c4480802bec8770856ba42022-12-22T03:20:51ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2008-12-01312610.1186/1747-597X-3-26Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome studyBrowne ThomShamblen SteveVanderhoff JudeYoung LindaPan ZhenfengJohnson KnowltonLinfield KenSuresh Geetha<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of drug abuse treatment in Peru that used the therapeutic community (TC) model. Program directors and several staff members from all study treatment facilities received two to eight weeks of in-country training on how to implement the TC treatment model prior to the follow-up study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This outcome study involved 33 TC treatment facilities and 509 former clients in Lima and other cities in five providences across Peru. A retrospective pre-test (RPT) follow-up design was employed in which 30-day use of illegal drugs and alcohol to intoxication was measured at baseline retrospectively, at the same time of the six-month follow-up. In-person interview data were collected from directors of 73 percent of the eligible TC organizations in January and February 2003 and from former 58 percent of the eligible TC former clients between October 2003 and October 2004. Drug testing was conducted on a small sample of former clients to increase the accuracy of the self-reported drug use data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Medium to large positive treatment effects were found when comparing 30-day illegal drug and alcohol use to intoxication before and six months after receiving treatment. As a supplemental analysis, we assumed the 42 percent of the former clients who were not interviewed at the six month assessment had returned to drugs. These results showed medium treatment effects as well. Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) results showed higher implementation fidelity, less stigma after leaving treatment, and older clients, singly or in combination are key predictors of treatment success.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study found that former clients of drug and alcohol treatment in facilities using the TC model reported substantial positive change in use of illegal drugs and alcohol to intoxication at a six-month follow-up. The unique contribution of this study is that the results also suggest attention should be placed on the importance of implementing the TC drug abuse treatment model with fidelity. Further, the results strongly suggest that TC drug abuse treatment programs should incorporate follow-up activities that attempt to neutralize community negative reactions (perceived stigma) independent of other factors.</p>http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/26
spellingShingle Browne Thom
Shamblen Steve
Vanderhoff Jude
Young Linda
Pan Zhenfeng
Johnson Knowlton
Linfield Ken
Suresh Geetha
Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
title Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
title_full Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
title_fullStr Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
title_full_unstemmed Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
title_short Therapeutic community drug treatment success in Peru: a follow-up outcome study
title_sort therapeutic community drug treatment success in peru a follow up outcome study
url http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/26
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