Drug and Alcohol Findings home page in a new window EFFECTIVENESS BANK BULLETIN 10 September 2012

The entries below are our accounts of documents collected by Drug and Alcohol Findings as relevant to improving outcomes from drug or alcohol interventions in the UK. The original documents were not published by Findings; click on the Titles to obtain copies. Free reprints may also be available from the authors. If displayed, click prepared e-mail to adapt the pre-prepared e-mail message or compose your own message. The Summary is intended to convey the findings and views expressed in the document. Below may be a commentary from Drug and Alcohol Findings.


Contents

Therapy add-ons to detox and maintenance; new prevention tactic

Two syntheses of research conducted for the Cochrane collaboration offer an instructive contrast between the non-impact of structured psychosocial therapy as an add-on to methadone maintenance and its positive impact when added to detoxification programmes based on reducing doses of the same drug. For the reviewers, a testament to the power of basic methadone maintenance. At the other end of the intervention spectrum, a team of US researchers has been trying to make universal youth drug use prevention more feasible for schools and colleges by targeting use of the most common substances and other health-relevant behaviours in one package delivered face-to-face in less than half an hour. The interventions embody sound psychological principles, contrasting risky behaviour with desired self-image, but effects have been patchy and sometimes short-lived, perhaps as much as can be expected from a one-off brief session.

Extra therapy does not improve on methadone plus counselling ...

Therapy means more complete opiate detoxification ...

Substance using pupils cut back after health promotion session ...

Few sustained gains from health promotion session with college students ...