Motivating methadone patients to include drug-free significant others in treatment : a behavioral intervention

FRANÇAIS :
75 patients suivant un traitement psychosocial intensif ont eu trois semaines pour trouver des personnes référentes non usagers de drogues. Les patients et ces personnes ont alors participé une fois par semaine (sur au moins six semaines) au programme de traitement. 85% des patients amenèrent quelqu'un, soit un membre de la famille ou un partenaire, soit un ami. Ces patients accomplirent mieux le programme de traitement. Il apparaît donc que la plupart des patients sous méthadone connaissent des personnes non usagers de drogues désireuses de participer à leur traitement. Celles-ci peuvent être utiles pour aider les patients à amorcer la construction de nouveaux liens sociaux libres de toutes drogues.
ENGLISH :
The present study introduced a novel behavorial approach for encouraging methadone-treated patients to bring drug-free significant other support into treatment. 75 patients referred to high-intensity psychosocial treatment due to chronic drug use were given 3 weeks to indentify a drug-free significant other. Patients and their significant others were required to attend a significant other group one time per week for a minimum of 6 weeks. 85 % of the patients brought a drug-free significant other into treatment. Significant others included family members, partners, and friends. Patients who identified significant other support complied with 77% of their scheduled sessions. The results demonstrated that most methadone patients have drug-free support people who are willing to participate in their treatment. These individuals can be utilized to help patients initiate the process of building new drug-free social support networks. (From authors' abstract)