Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Aims: To examine the change in drug use behavior and drug-use-related mental-health over the length of treatment among individuals entering intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment for Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Methods: Forty participants in an IOP treatment program in Southern California self-selected treatment goals at intake and goal-group membership was then labeled as Abstinence-Goal (AG) and Moderation-Goal (MG). Participants were then followed for the duration of treatment and assessed for alcohol and drug use, depression, anxiety, sleep and other relevant mental health indicators.Analysis of intake to discharge differences in functioning was undertaken to examine changes based on goal-group membership. Results: Results indicated significant differences in substance use throughout treatment, although deviations from AG and MG expected use patterns did not deviate differently from goal-based expectations. Treatment satisfaction was not found to vary based on initial goal selection. Controlling for initial use patterns revealed some group differences between individuals seeking AG and MG treatment goals. Conclusions: Our study reveals that initial goal selection does not necessarily result in better or worse treatment outcomes. Abstinence goals are frequently the only acceptable goals in treatment due to the assumption that they produce superior outcome. However, our study suggests that the selection of moderation goals is appropriate for SUD treatment settings

Biography

Adi Jaffe completed his PhD at The University of California in Los Angeles and postdoctoral studies from UCLAs Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. He is the co-founder and executive director of research for Alternatives Addiction Treatment, a premier outpatient SUD treatment provider in Beverly Hills, California. He also founded and developed the first algorithm-driven SUD treatment-search tool that was used in the described study. He has published more than a dozen papers in reputed journals and serves on the editorial boards of a number of SUD journals.