Drug Interventions Programme: clinical profile of service users v. attendees of standard services

Abstract

Aims and MethodWe conducted a retrospective survey of all cases referred to the Drug Interventions Programme in Hertfordshire for the first 9 months in order to compare them with those referred to one of the community drug and alcohol teams.ResultsThe Drugs Interventions Programme had significantly more White British clients and clients who had dropped out from previous treatment. Compared with community team clients, the Programme had a higher percentage of clients with an opioid problem (92%), of whom a high percentage also misused other substances (78%) and injected drugs (30%, half of whom shared needles).Clinical ImplicationsMore chaotic clients who had failed previous treatment have entered treatment with the Drug Interventions Programme.