Abstract
Background and AimsThere are no accurate statistical data on the relapse rate of drug abstainers after compulsory detoxification in China. This study aimed to collect relapse data for drug abstainers through follow-up visits, verify the effectiveness of professional social worker services and explore significant factors affecting relapse.Design and SettingThe drug abstainers released from Guangzhou T Compulsory Isolated Detoxification Center were randomly divided into two groups. The difference between the experimental group and the control group is that assistance services were provided by social workers to the former.ParticipantsThe study included 510 drug abstainers released from T Center, including 153 in the experimental group and 357 in the control group.MeasurementsDemographic information, history of drug abuse, and motivation for drug rehabilitation (SOCRATES) were collected 1 month prior to drug abstainer release from compulsory detoxification. Then, the relapse situation after their release was tracked according to fixed time points.FindingsThe overall relapse rate of 510 drug abstainers after their release from compulsory detoxification was 47.6%. The average survival time to relapse based on survival analysis was 220 days (N = 486), as calculated with Bayesian estimation by the MCMC method. The average survival times to relapse of the experimental group and control group were 393 and 175 days, respectively. By taking the specific survival time as the dependent variable and the group as the control variable (OR = 25.362), logistic regression analysis showed that marital status (OR = 2.666), previous compulsory detoxification experience (OR = 2.329) and location of household registration (OR = 1.557) had a significant impact on the survival time to relapse.ConclusionsThe occurrence of relapse among drug patients released from compulsory detoxification can be delayed effectively through the intervention of professional social worker services. Regardless of whether patients receive aftercare after compulsory detoxification, drug-using patients who are single, have multiple detoxification experiences and whose households are registered in other provinces deserve special attention. Relevant suggestions to avoid relapse are provided.
Highlights
Drugs are a public nuisance in society
T Center was chosen for this study mainly for the following two reasons: x It receives drug abusers in Guangdong Province and has the most drug patients in the province, so it can reflect the general situation of drug abusers. y It is the first center in the province to provide drug patients with tracking services in the form of government purchases of social services
The overall relapse rate of the drug patients released from compulsory detoxification and the relapse rate of the experimental and control groups are reported based on the follow-up situation, and the frequency of relapse in each time period after their release is calculated
Summary
Drugs are a public nuisance in society. Drug abuse has always been a major social issue that has seriously affected China’s social stability and economic development and individuals’ livelihoods. China arrested 1.006 million drug abusers, including 445,000 registered newly discovered drug abusers, 357,000 undergoing compulsory isolated detoxification by law, 245,000 ordered to undergo community-based detoxification and 59,000 ordered to undergo community-based rehabilitation. Guangdong Province suffers the most serious drug abuse problem in China. In 2014, the number of registered drug abusers in Guangdong Province was 470,000, and it reached 582,000 by the end of 2015, an increase of 100,000 in 1 year. Compared with the national data from the same period, the number of drug abusers in Guangdong is the highest in the country [4], accounting for approximately one quarter of the national total and causing a loss of more than RMB 100 billion to society every year. This study aimed to collect relapse data for drug abstainers through follow-up visits, verify the effectiveness of professional social worker services and explore significant factors affecting relapse
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