Weekend residential treatment of the relapsing addict-parolee

Over a five-month period, thirty-one paroled narcotic addicts attending an out-patient abstinence clinic were referred to the clinic's impatient unit for intensive weekend care because of excessive absences or repeated provision of either opiate positive or QNS specimens. The goal of brief residential treatment was to assess the client's physical, psychological, and social status in order to prevent further involvement with illicit narcotics and resultant criminal behavior. Formal therapeutic activities included individual and group psychotherapy. Treatment response was evaluated by comparing pre and post abstinence program records and determining final outpatient disposition in each case. Viewed on this basis, the effects of weekend crisis intervention were considered minimal. Possible explanations for this result and implications for the future care of the addict parolee are discussed.