An experimental comparison of two community-based drug abuse treatment programs

An experimental comparison was made of the drug abuse treatment effectiveness of a halfway house and a community lodge program. Drug abusers, mainly heroin addicts, were randomly assigned to one of the two programs. After a three-month follow-up period, no significant differences between the two conditions were observed on four outcome variables: number of reinstitutionalizations, number of jailings, time spent in the program, and percentage of drug-free urines. The finding of no differences between the two approaches was interpreted as casting doubt on the argument for the need for highly structured programs for the treatment of chronic drug abusers. The factors that were found to be related to outcome generally supported the hypothesis that increased assimilation into the drug culture (as measured by longer time spent mainlining heroin, greater habit cost, illegal support of the habit, and more time spent in jail after beginning illegal drug use) leads to unfavorable treatment outcomes. No evidence was found that related treatment outcomes to social class, age, education, employment history, or marital status.