This treatment mode had a high percentage of patients reporting daily or weekly use of cocaine in the year before treatment and a sharp decline in weekly and daily use after treatment. The percentage of patients reporting illegal acts and thoughts of suicide also declined significantly after treatment in these programs. The researchers are exploring whether continuing involvement in outpatient services and mutual help groups may have contributed to these positive outcomes. The Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study found reductions in the use of all drugs including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana after treatment. Counseling, vocational skills development, and case management to help patients access support services are used to gradually stabilize the patients functioning.
Some patients stay on methadone for long periods, while others move from methadone to abstinence.
Patients generally stay in these programs several months or up to a year or more. Some of these programs are referred to as therapeutic communities. As with long-term residential treatment programs, patients may stay in these programs for months or longer. Short-term inpatient programs keep patients up to 30 days. Most of these programs focus on medical stabilization, abstinence, and lifestyle changes.