Cannabis Treatment Outcomes for Coerced vs. Non-Coerced Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Jan Copeland, Jane C. Maxwell
Primary Institution: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Hypothesis
This study aims to compare the characteristics, psychosocial functioning, and treatment outcomes of those legally coerced into cannabis treatment compared to those entering treatment without legal coercion.
Conclusion
Individuals coerced into cannabis treatment were less impaired and more likely to complete treatment and be abstinent at follow-up compared to non-coerced clients.
Supporting Evidence
- 69% of cannabis admissions were involved with the criminal justice system.
- 42% of coerced clients successfully completed treatment compared to 34% of non-coerced clients.
- 84% of coerced clients had not used cannabis in the month prior to follow-up.
Takeaway
This study found that people who were forced to go to cannabis treatment did better than those who went on their own.
Methodology
The study is a retrospective audit of administrative clinical records of adults presenting to public Texas treatment programs with cannabis as their primary drug problem.
Potential Biases
The reporting on DSM-IV diagnoses was not uniform across all programs.
Limitations
The dataset is representative only of lower income clients who entered publicly-funded treatment in Texas, and the 90-day follow-up data is largely self-reported and not biochemically validated.
Participant Demographics
The study included 27,198 adults, with 69% being legally coerced into treatment.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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