Study: 2 Programs Equal for Substance Abuse

A program of long-term support may not help people with addictions any more than a brief visit and treatment referral, a study suggests. The study included nearly 600 adults who abused alcohol or drugs. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group was assigned to a program of chronic care management. It included medical care at a primary care clinic. People also received addiction and psychiatric treatment. They got counseling to help keep up their motivation and prevent relapse. People in the other group saw a primary care doctor and received a list of addiction treatment resources. They also could get 4 sessions aimed at strengthening their motivation to quit, and follow-up care. After a year, 44% of those in the chronic care group had quit drinking or using drugs. About 42% of those in the other group also had quit.