Who Starts Treatment: Engagement in the NIDA Collaborative Cocaine Treatment Study

This study addressed the role of demographic variables, severity of drug dependence, and drug-related problems in facilitating or impeding engagement into a research treatment. Patients were tracked through various stages of entry for the research treatment: phone screening, intake, and randomization to treatment. Results suggested that certain demographic factors put patients more at risk for dropping out at intake and randomization. African-American and unemployed patients were less likely to stay in treatment at both stages, with largest differences at intake. Younger patients were less likely to complete both phases, with bigger differences noted at randomization. Patients with more days of cocaine use and patients referred from advertisements were less likely to keep their intake appointments.