BACKGROUND
The effect of a web-based relapse prevention program might vary depending on a specific population if the study participants included drug users who had various characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this secondary analysis was to explore subgroups that may receive benefits from a web-based relapse prevention program among Japanese drug users.
METHODS
Outpatients with drug use disorder (n = 48) were randomly assigned to an eight-week, six-session web-based relapse prevention program (intervention group) or web-based self-monitoring only (control group). We tested the effects of the intervention on abstinence in different subgroups divided by a primary abused drug (methamphetamine vs. other drugs), previous face-to-face relapse prevention (received vs. not received), and outpatient treatment term (long-term: ≥ 3 years vs. short-term: < 3 years). Consecutive abstinence duration from the primary abused drug was compared in the subgroups, and the interaction between the intervention condition and the subgroup condition was assessed.
RESULTS
The interaction between the intervention condition and the subgroup condition was not significant for any subgroup. In the subgroup with short-term outpatient treatment and the subgroup of methamphetamine users, the intervention group maintained better abstinence compared to the control group, although the difference was non-significant.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that some outpatient subgroups such as patients with short-term treatment may benefit from a web-based program as an alternative treatment.
CLINICALTRIAL
This study protocol was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network clinical trial registry (UMIN000016075).