Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111866

Anna Kline, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 671 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 732-235-4341, kline_anna@yahoo.com and Usha Sambamoorthi, PhD, Division of Health Systems and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 11 Bartram Road, Englishtown, NJ 07726.

Research Objective: To compare determinants of addiction treatment retention in adult patients with and without co-occurring substance abuse and mental health (MH) problems.

Study Design: The study employed a longitudinal design using a randomly selected, representative sample of 20 block-grant funded addiction treatment agencies in New Jersey. Baseline, 3-month and 12-month data were collected through face-to-face or telephone interviews using a modified Addiction Severity Index (ASI) Lite and the Treatment Services Review (TSR). Interview data were merged with discharge data reported through the New Jersey addiction treatment data system and with state-collected agency profile data (e.g. staffing patterns, staff credentials, etc.). Respondents with co-occurring disorders were identified using the ASI psychological composite score, the addiction treatment record and self-report of a physician-diagnosed mental health problem such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder.

Population Studied: Clients (n =1,002) enrolled within 5 days of their admission to treatment in years 2000 and 2001. The completion rates were 91% at 3-months and 87% at 12-months.

Principal Findings: MH problems were identified in 60% of the sample. Factors affecting retention in the non-MH population were primarily client-centered. In the MH sample, staff credentialing, staff-client ratios, receipt of ancillary services and patient satisfaction influenced treatment retention.

Conclusion: Adequacy and responsiveness of the addiction treatment environment are important predictors of retention in patients with co-occurring mental health problems.

Implication for Policy: A broad-based approach to addressing the multiple service needs of patients with co-occurring disorders are critical to insuring successful outcomes for this population.

Learning Objectives:

• The learner will (a) learn about prevalence of co-occurring illness in New Jersey substance abusing population, (b) assess the service needs of these respondents and (c) understand the impact co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness in addiction treatment retention.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.