UK drug treatments increase throughput, but not treatments
A new study from researchers at Liverpool John Moore's University have found that in the UK, people undergoing drug rehabilitation are dropping out more often, and leaving drug-free less often between 1998 to 2001. Furthermore, those coerced into treatment through the criminal justice system are far more likely to have unsuccessful treatments. The results come following a large-scale study of 26,415 drug users in the North West region, which includes Liverpool and much of Manchester. The UK government in this time put time and money into developing an effective programme for drug offenders, rather than imprisoning them. Consequently, the number of people undergoing treatment rose rapidly over the years 1998-2001/2002. The proportion of people dropping out of treatment increased from 7.2 per cent in 1998 to 9.6 per cent in 2002. Those individuals coerced into treatment by the criminal justice system were more likely to drop out of treatment than those referred through other routes. The proportion of drug users who successfully completed treatment decreased from 5.8 per cent in 1998 to 3.5 per cent in 2002, but the proportion of drug users who came back to start treatment again after dropping out of treatment increased from 22.9 per cent in 1998 to 48.6 per cent in 2002. Interestingly, even amongst those individuals who had successfully completed a treatment, and left a programme drug-free, the numbers were similar, with 27.8 per cent going back for further treatment in 1998 to 44.5 per cent returning for further treatment in 2002. This suggests that the treatment itself - even when successful - is not necessarily dealing with the root causes of drug use. 'We conclude that recent measures to increase drug treatment participation have speeded up a revolving door both in and out of treatment,' according to the report, written by Dr Caryl Beynon and colleagues. However, 'those with prior treatment history were more than twice as likely to re-present for further treatment the following year than those who were treatment naïve, suggesting that many are not overly disenchanted or unwilling to try again,' concludes the report.
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United Kingdom