Effects of sustained abstinence among treated substance-abusing homeless persons on housing and employment.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether cocaine-dependent homeless persons had stable housing and were employed 6, 12, and 18 months after they entered a randomized controlled trial comparing 2 treatments. METHODS: One group (n = 103) received abstinence-contingent housing, vocational training, and work; an...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Public Health Vol. 100; no. 5; pp. 913 - 919
Autores principales: Milby JB, Schumacher JE, Wallace D, Vuchinich R, Mennemeyer ST, Kertesz SG
Formato: clinical trial research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: American Public Health Association May2010
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVES: We examined whether cocaine-dependent homeless persons had stable housing and were employed 6, 12, and 18 months after they entered a randomized controlled trial comparing 2 treatments. METHODS: One group (n = 103) received abstinence-contingent housing, vocational training, and work; another group (n = 103) received the same intervention plus cognitive behavioral day treatment. We examined baseline and early treatment variables for association with long-term housing and employment. RESULTS: Although the enhanced-treatment group achieved better abstinence rates, the groups did not differ in long-term housing and employment stability. However, consecutive weeks of abstinence during treatment (and to a lesser extent, older age and male gender) predicted long-term housing and employment stability after adjustment for baseline differences in employment, housing, and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed a relationship of abstinence with housing stability. Contrasting these results with the increasingly popular Housing First interventions reveals important gaps in our knowledge to be addressed in future research.