Evaluating a Behaviorally Based Intervention to Improve Client Retention in Therapeutic Community Treatment for Drug Dependency

Abstract

This is the first practice research study to examine the feasibility of increasing the retention rate for a therapeutic community program for drug abusers. The effects of a short-term, cognitive- behavioral intervention were analyzed by use of a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design involving 22 new admissions. The Beck Depression Inventory and Problem-Solving Inventory were administered in pretest-posttest format, with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire administered at posttreatment. Results revealed a retention rate of 100% for the treatment group, compared to 27% for the untreated group, at 60 days. The results are discussed in terms of their applications to social work practice.