A study published in Open Journal of Psychiatry and conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Southern California found patients in recovery from a substance use disorder are more likely to succeed when they are in treatment for more than 30 days.[1]
The researchers emphasized that once a patient has completed alcohol or drug detox and is in the early stages of recovery, treatment and post-treatment care is essential.
The leader of the research team, Dr. Akikur Mohammad, a psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, summarized their study’s recommendations by stating, “Aftercare is crucial once an individual has completed drug or alcohol treatment and is in recovery. There is a continuity of care that should be followed once initial treatment is completed. This usually involves a lower level of treatment, such as outpatient care and a sober living environment. Our study shows that the absence of such treatment after 30 days significantly reduces the chances of the patient maintaining their sobriety.”[2]
Acknowledging chemical dependency is a widespread issue affecting between 20 and 40 million Americans annually, plus the added societal and financial costs of criminal justice expenses, health-related tolls and lost productivity, the research team cited an economic impact of approximately $200 billion a year in the U.S. alone.[3]
According to the study, after one year, more than half (55%) of patients who completed a 30-day rehab program were successfully treated for addiction. It’s worth noting that percentage significantly rises for those who remained in treatment for more than 30 days. This finding indicates that their clinical addiction treatment plan of more than 30 days increased the success outcome of the patients.[4]
The study’s sample population was 72 people (roughly half men and half women), an average of 30 years old, all of whom were in treatment for a substance use disorder, ranging between a chemical dependency on amphetamines, opioids, alcohol and/or benzodiazepines.
After treatment, each person engaged in a follow-up program for one year, during which they were surveyed multiple times regarding drug use, the efficacy of treatment, and their compliance with the aftercare plan.
While no meaningful differences were found associated with age or gender, the study did find 55% successfully showed sobriety over the course of a year following a 30-day treatment protocol. In comparison, however, for those who continued treatment for more than a month, 85% percent successfully stayed sober, accomplishing a 1-year treatment outcome.
Another study was conducted by researchers from Brandeis University who sought to determine the effects of engagement in outpatient addiction treatment, specifically whether or not it can reduce the likelihood of a subsequent admission to drug detox. Their results confirmed that “treatment engagement is not only a useful measure for monitoring the standard and quality of care, it was also associated with lower rates of subsequent admissions to drug detox.”[5]
Their conclusion was that those who participate in outpatient treatment had a lower rate of admission to medical detox throughout the next year, which underscores the importance of engaging people with a chemical dependency into treatment. That same study also reported “engagement in treatment was associated with an even stronger reduction in detoxification admissions that are not followed by treatment.”[6]
This research result is significant, given the prevailing notion in the field of addiction medicine that detoxification alone is not expected to establish or sustain recovery. The bottom line is that seeking and receiving addiction treatment immediately following or soon after medical detox —especially if the treatment is for more than 30 days—has been associated with better outcomes.
[1] Mohammad, Akikur, et al. “Addiction Treatment Aftercare Outcome Study.” Open Journal of Psychiatry. January 2017.
[2] Gamboa, C. “Drug rehab recovery more successful if completed for 30 days or more.” Addiction Now. March 22, 2017.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Mohammad, Akikur, et al. “Addiction Treatment Aftercare Outcome Study.” Open Journal of Psychiatry. January 2017.
[5] Acevedo, A., et al. “Admissions to Detoxification after Treatment: Does Engagement Make a Difference?” Substance Abuse. May 11, 2016.
[6] Ibid.
