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Drug Users Dropping Out Of Treatment

Drug users are most likely to drop out of treatment if they are forced into it by the criminal justice system, according to a British study in relation to the outcome of treatment for drug addiction.

After studying 26,415 anonymous drug users who resorted to relevant treatments between 1997 and 2004 in England’s Cheshire and Merseyside areas, author of the study, Dr Caryl Beynon of Liverpool’s John Moore University concludes that the impact of coercive treatment on drug-users needs further review. At the same time, she admits that efforts to make drug addiction treatments more accessible and easier have been paid off since more and more people are coming forward, seeking helpful advice for their drug-related problems.

A spokesman of Birmingham Police’s drug-referral unit says, “Young people are increasingly drifting into drug-addiction, these days. According to our government, drug-addiction is a crime. Addicts who are not ready for treatment are often coerced into it by our law. Most of them are skeptical about the long-term results of such treatments and hence opt out.”

He believes that escapism, curiosity, ready availability of drugs, internet and media stunts influence people, especially teenagers, to take up drugs. Moreover, youngsters follow the foot-steps of top celebrities and often turn to drugs. He adds, “Educated people in high-fly jobs spend thousands on drugs. People who are less affluent often feed their habits by resorting to crimes and prostitution. There are more positive and less harsher ways to solve this problem. We have to identify and apply them.”

The threat of losing their jobs incites men while family influences motivate women to give up on their long-term treatments, reveals another study conducted by the researchers of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland.

Lorna Matthews, head of drug and alcohol detoxification team of Mother and Baby, a Birmingham based charity that aims at bringing positive changes in peoples’ lives, points out, “Most people do not recognise their problems. When they do, they do not have the courage to go for counselling and treatment. It is basically their way of coping with stress and interpersonal self. Single-mothers are often under the notion that if they admit about their addiction related problems, their children will be taken away by the social service. They either suffer silently or drop out of treatments before their completion.”