Evaluation of a substance use treatment program for forensic psychiatric inpatients

ABSTRACTThere have been few evaluations of substance use interventions for forensic psychiatric patients. In this study, we evaluated a manualized substance use treatment for forensic inpatients by comparing 35 treatment completers (who attended 75% or more of their sessions) and 30 non-completers (less than 75%) on self-report and urinalysis measures. The treatment completer group showed significant increases in substance-related knowledge and self-reported relapse prevention skills, but there was no significant difference between completers and non-completers in time to first substance use (if any) or in having a positive urine screen result 12 or 24 months after participation in the program. The results indicated improvement in knowledge and self-reported skills, but this did not translate to decreased substance use as measured by urinalysis. Implications for substance use treatment are discussed.