A Survey of Posthospitalization Treatment Needs and Preferences in Cocaine Abusers

In an effort to lower recidivism, most inpatient drug treatment programs offer a variety of aftercare options. There is a lack of empirically based knowledge needed to make decisions about posthospital treatment development and its implementation. The authors used a survey method to evaluate outpatient treatment needs and preferences of hospitalized cocaine-dependent patients (N = 40). Stronger preferences were expressed for 12-step programs, behavioral relapse prevention, and employment counseling than for psychotherapy, medical treatment, and legal assistance. Most subjects viewed cocaine addiction as a disease (93%) rather than a learned habit (7%). Group therapy was preferred over individual therapy (66% vs. 34%). For each problem area on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), patient severity ratings were strongly correlated with perceived aftercare treatment needs, whereas interviewer ratings and composite scores on the ASI were not. The authors discuss implications of client preferences in posthospital treatment.