Six-month outcomes for 90 treated drug users from abstinence oriented treatment centres

* Lapse status was assessed using an eight-level scaling of lapse / relapse outcomes (as defined by Walton et al., 1994). Drug use over the entire six-month follow-up period was assessed using the principle of Timeline Follow Back (Sobell et al., 1988), as adapted for drug use by Walton et al. (1994).

A CISS cut-off score of 6 or less can be used to indicate "good outcome" for abstinence based treatment. This correctly identified 88% of outcomes where drug use was assessed only in month before follow-up, and 84% of outcomes where drug use was assessed over the entire six-month follow-up period.

See chart above: The yellow bars indicate the CISS score distribution of treated drug users who were abstinent at six months after treatment (e.g.,19 abstinent subjects scored only 2). The blue bars indicate the CISS score distribution of treated drug users who were using drugs at six months after treatment (e.g., 7 drug using subjects scored 12).

Christo, G., Spurrell, S. and Alcorn, R. (2000). Validation of the Christo Inventory for Substance-misuse Services (CISS): a simple outcome evaluation tool. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

 Sobell, L.C., Sobell, M.B., Leo, G.I. and Caneilla, A. (1988). Reliability of a timeline method: assessing normal drinkers' reports of recent drinking and a comparative evaluation across several populations. British Journal of Addiction, 83, 393-402.

Walton, M.A., Castro, F.G. and Barrington, E.H. (1994). The role of attributions in abstinence, lapse, and relapse following substance abuse treatment. Addictive Behaviors, 19(3), 319-331.