The study of lapse patterns among patients at the Chiang Mai Drug Dependence Treatment Center, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This retrospective descriptive study aimed at measuring duration of lapse after discharge from treatment programs at the Chiang Mai Drug Treatment Center between October 2009 and May 2010. Treatment data from the Drug Treatment Information System form 5 at the Chiang Mai Drug Treatment Center were analyzed including 1-year follow-up data from its services, telephone calls, home visits and letters. Survival analysis was used for describing lapse events among various groups of different drug use. The total of 319 substance use patients was followed up. The median survival time for the first substance use lapse was 6 months. The median (95% CI) values for nicotine, alcohol, and opium patients were 3 (95% CI: 2-3), 6 (95% CI: 3-6), and 6 (95% CI: 2-12) respectively. Less than 50% of others, including amphetamine-type stimulants, marijuana and heroin, had lapsed within 1 year. In Summary, Lapse patterns among drug treatment patients of various substances are not the same. Follow-up system to record lapse patterns should be included in a routine drug treatment programs for monitoring their effectiveness.