Measuring Relapse After Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment

Objectives The purpose of this research is to evaluate the role numerous psychosocial, treatment, and environmental characteristics play in the relapse process. Methods This retrospective cohort study uses time-to-event analysis via Cox regression to analyze the relapse pattern of adolescents treated for psychoactive substance use disorder. Although time-to-event analysis is a preferred statistical analytical tool for evaluating the outcomes of care of this treatment population, no published research exists applying time-to-event analysis in the adolescent treatment population. The subjects are 509 adolescents discharged from American Society of Addiction Medicine-defined Level 1. A primary inpatient treatment from 2001 to 2005. Results Findings indicate that race, sex, participation in support groups, school attendance, supportive friendships, and cannabis dependence are significant determinants of relapse. Hazard ratios for each significant variable are given in the context of a predictive model. Robustness and relevance of the model and Cox regression analysis in general are discussed in the context of the treatment process.