Advanced Search | Help

Newsroom

Events and Conferences
November 2009
SMTWTFS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930


Statistics
SAMHSA News Room
Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130

SAMHSA Advisory

Date: 11/17/2006
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA-funded Study Shows Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment within 30 Days Following Detoxification Lengthens the Time to Subsequent Relapse

More than one-quarter of patients receiving publicly funded substance abuse detoxification will have a second detoxification readmission within a year.  But if patients receive substance abuse treatment on two or more days within 30 days of discharge from a detoxification admission, time to subsequent relapse and readmission lengthens by 40 percent according to findings revealed in a study sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and published in the September 2006 issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

About 25 percent of all admissions to substance abuse specialty facilities are for detoxification (about 440,000 admissions).  Detoxification is designed to help clients stop the use of alcohol or other drugs relatively quickly, while minimizing withdrawal symptoms.  However, detoxification in itself does not constitute treatment for substance use disorders.  Comprehensive treatment entails rehabilitation and recovery services.

The study also showed that only about one-forth of patients are engaged in substance abuse treatment within a month following discharge from detoxification.  Further, the study emphasizes that engaging patients in treatment immediately following detoxification is a critical step in preventing relapse and cycling in and out of detoxification.

This study used a unique database to track patients who received detoxification or other substance abuse services in Medicaid- or public agency-funded facilities in three states.  The database was developed by researchers from Thomson Medstat under the direction of SAMHSA.    

The SAMHSA-funded study was conducted under the SAMHSA Spending Estimates Project and was written by Dr. Tami L. Mark of Thomson Medstat, Rita Vandivort of SAMHSA, and Leslie Montejano of Thomson Medstat.  The complete article can be accessed at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/sat.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.


Page Last Updated: 11/17/2006