[Factors Associated With the Temporary Abandonment of Treatment for Disorders Due to Substance Abuse in an Institution in Medellin, Colombia].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency and factors associated withtreatment drop-out in patients from a Substance User Treatment Center in Medellín, Colombia.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted, with patients with an early treatment dropout as cases, and patients who completed the treatment as controls. Demographic data, substance use pattern, concomitant diseases, and the decision to initiate treatment were compared between cases and controls.

RESULTS

The frequency of early drop-out was 59%, but a high proportion of this drop-out (47.5%) occurred in the transition period between the program stages. The variables associated with drop-out were: psychotic disorder (OR=0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.91), bipolar disorder (OR=0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.77), heroin as the principal substance compared to alcohol (OR=6.68; 95% CI, 1.52-29.4), decision to initiate the treatment by the family compared to personal decision (OR=3.02; 95% CI, 1.28-7.17), and previous treatments (OR=1.87; 95% CI, 1.02-3.44).

CONCLUSIONS

The drop-out frequency is similar to those reported in other studies. Associated factors were found, which could be considered in order to plan strategies to improve the program results.