Increasing adherence to substance abuse aftercare group therapy

Adherence to aftercare therapy in substance abuse treatment is associated with improved outcomes. Although previous research has established that adherence contracts and orientation to aftercare are an effective method of increasing aftercare attendance, participation levels are often low. We examined whether feedback and prompts are an effective means of further increasing adherence to substance abuse aftercare group therapy beyond that found when orientation and adherence contracts are completed. We randomly assigned 41 substance dependent individuals completing inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment to receive either attendance feedback and prompts to attend aftercare, or no feedback and no prompts. participants who received the feedback and prompts were more likely to begin aftercare, and to attended more weekly aftercare groups, and they were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital. The clinical utility of prompts and feedback are discussed.