Cocaine, Crack, Pills-Whats the addiction

A successful outcome to drug treatment often depends upon retaining the person long enough to gain the full benefits of the treatment. So strategies for keeping an individual in the program are critical. Whether a patient stays or not depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program. Individual factors include motivation to change drug-using behavior; degree of support from family and friends; and whether there is pressure to stay in treatment from the criminal justice system, child protection services, employers, or the family. Within the program, successful counselors are able to establish a positive, therapeutic relationship with the patient. The counselor should ensure that the individual knows what to expect during treatment and that the treatment plan is established and followed. Medical, psychiatric, and social services should always be available.

Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program.

Quite often, individual problems (such as serious mental illness, severe cocaine or crack use, and criminal involvement) increase the likelihood of a patient dropping out. In those cases, intensive treatment with a range of components may be required. The provider then should ensure a transition to continuing care or “aftercare” following the patient’s completion of formal treatment.