Chapter 8
Detoxification Discharges: 2005

Chapter 8 presents data on the reasons for discharge and length of stay (LOS) in treatment for the 315,075 linked admission/discharge records of clients discharged from detoxification in 2005 in 33 States [Table 8.1].

Table 8.1 and Figure 8.1 present the distribution of reasons for discharge among discharges from detoxification. Overall, 203,394 (65 percent) of ­detoxification discharges completed detoxification, 38,412 (12 percent) were transferred to further treatment, 51,196 (16 percent) dropped out of treatment, 8,450 (3 percent) had treatment terminated by the facility, and 13,623 (4 percent) failed to complete treatment for other reasons. Table 8.1 also presents reason for discharge by State.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Figure 8.2, Table 2.5, and Appendix Table C.1. The median LOS for detoxification was 3 days. The average (mean) LOS was longer, 9 days (standard deviation, 56). The average LOS was longer than the median LOS for all reasons for discharge and for all client characteristics [Tables 8.2-8.11].

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Among detoxification clients who completed treatment, the median LOS was the same as those who transferred to further treatment (4 days). Among clients who dropped out of treatment, it was 2 days; among those whose treatment was terminated by the facility, it was 3 days; and among those who failed to complete treatment for other reasons, the median LOS was 1 day.

In comparison with all discharges combined, clients discharged from detoxification were [Table 2.7]:

• more likely to be male (76 percent, compared to 68 percent of all discharges) and less likely to be female (24 percent, compared to 32 percent of all discharges);
  
• more likely to be aged 41 to 50 (33 percent, compared to 25 percent of all discharges) and less likely to be under age 21 (4 percent, compared to 14 percent of all discharges);
  
• more likely to report alcohol or opiates as their primary substance of abuse (53 percent and 28 percent, respectively, compared to 39 percent and 18 percent of all discharges) and less likely to report marijuana (2 percent, compared to 15 percent of all discharges);
  
• more likely to report daily use of their primary substance at admission (75 percent, compared to 43 percent of all discharges); and less likely to report no use in the month before treatment entry (2 percent, compared to 26 percent of all discharges);
  
• more likely to be self- or individually referred (57 percent, compared to 34 percent of all discharges) and less likely to have been referred to treatment by the criminal justice system (12 percent, compared to 35 percent of all discharges);
  
• more likely not to be in the labor force (53 percent, compared to 44 percent of all discharges) and less likely to be employed full time or part time (18 percent, compared to 27 percent); and
  
• more likely to have been in treatment five or more times before (20 percent, compared to 10 percent of all discharges).

Gender

Table 8.2 and Figure 8.3. Seventy-six percent of clients discharged from detoxification were male.

Males and females were equally likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (77 percent, combined, for each).

Males and females who completed detoxification had the same median LOS (4 days).

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Age at Admission

Table 8.3 and Figure 8.4. The largest age group among clients discharged from detoxification was ages 41 to 50 at admission (33 percent), followed by ages 31 to 40 (30 percent) and ages 21 to 30 (21 percent). Thirteen percent were over age 50, and 4 percent were under age 21.*

Clients over age 50 were most likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (82 percent), followed by clients aged 41 to 50 (79 percent) and those aged 31 to 40 (76 percent). The combined completion/transfer rates were 72 percent in the two youngest age groups.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was 4 days in all age groups.

* Percentages do not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Race/Ethnicity

Table 8.4 and Figure 8.5. Fifty-two percent of clients discharged from detoxification were non-Hispanic White, 24 percent were non-Hispanic Black, 19 percent were of Hispanic origin, and 5 percent were of other racial/ethnic groups.

Non-Hispanic Blacks were most likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (79 percent). The combined completion/transfer rate was 78 percent among clients of Hispanic origin and 75 percent among non-Hispanic Whites.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was 3 days to 4 days for all racial/ethnic groups.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Primary Substance

Table 8.5 and Figure 8.6. Fifty-three percent of clients discharged from detoxification reported alcohol as their primary substance of abuse at admission. Opiates were reported by 28 percent, cocaine by 10 percent, stimulants by 4 percent, marijuana by 2 percent, and other substances by 3 percent.

Clients reporting alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana as their primary substances were most likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (80 percent, 78 percent, and 77 percent, respectively.) The combined completion/transfer rates for the other substances were between 74 percent (stimulants) and 70 percent (opiates).

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was 3 days to 5 days for all primary substances at admission.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Frequency of Use

Table 8.6 and Figure 8.7. Seventy-five percent of clients discharged from detoxification reported daily use of their primary substance at admission, while 2 percent reported no use in the month before entering treatment.

The proportions of clients who completed detoxification or transferred to further treatment displayed no consistent pattern with frequency of substance use and were between 75 percent and 89 percent.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification displayed no consistent pattern with frequency of substance use and was between 1 day and 6 days.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Age at First Use

Table 8.7 and Figure 8.8. The peak age at first use of the primary substance among clients discharged from detoxification was 15 to 17 years (28 percent). Twenty-three percent did not begin use until after age 21, and 12 percent began use at age 12 or younger.

The proportions of clients who completed detoxification or transferred to further treatment varied little by age at first use of the primary substance and were between 76 percent and 79 percent.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification varied little with age at first use of the primary substance and was between 3 days and 5 days.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Prior Treatment*

Table 8.8 and Figure 8.9. Forty percent of clients discharged from detoxification had never been in treatment before, while 20 percent had been in treatment five or more times before.

Clients with five or more prior treatment episodes were least likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (71 percent). The combined completion/transfer rates for fewer treatment episodes varied little and were between 77 percent and 79 percent.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was longest (4 days) among clients with three, four, or five or more prior treatment episodes. It was 3 days among those with one or two prior episodes, and shortest (2 days) among those with no prior episodes.

* Number of prior treatment episodes was reported for 66 percent of clients discharged from detoxification.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Treatment Referral Source

Table 8.9 and Figure 8.10. Fifty-seven percent of clients discharged from detoxification were self- or individual referrals to treatment, 12 percent were referred by the criminal justice system, 11 percent by community sources, 10 percent by alcohol/drug abuse care providers, and 9 percent by health care providers.*

Clients referred to treatment by community sources were most likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (88 percent). The combined completion/transfer rate was lowest for self- or individual referrals (73 percent).

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was 1 day to 4 days for all referral sources.

* Percentages do not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Employment Status

Table 8.10 and Figure 8.11. Fifty-three percent of clients age 16 and older discharged from detoxification were not in the labor force, 29 percent were unemployed, and 18 percent were employed either full time or part time.

Clients who were unemployed were most likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment (81 percent). The combined completion/transfer rates were 79 percent among those who were employed and 74 percent among those who were not in the labor force.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was 2 days to 4 days for all employment categories.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

Education

Table 8.11 and Figure 8.12. Forty-six percent of clients age 18 and older discharged from detoxification had 12 years of education or a GED, 33 percent had fewer than 12 years of education, and 22 percent had more than 12 years of education.*

Clients with more than 12 years of education were more likely to complete detoxification or to transfer to further treatment than were clients with 12 years or fewer. The combined completion/transfer rate was highest (78 percent) among those with more than 12 years of education. It was 76 percent among both clients with 12 years of education or a GED and among clients with fewer than 12 years of education.

The median LOS among clients completing detoxification was the same (4 days) at all levels of education.

* Percentages do not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.

SOURCE: Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS). Data received through 10.03.06.

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