Behavioral treatments of cocaine addiction: Assessing patient needs and improving treatment entry and outcome

Our studies have evaluated behavioral interventions for cocaine dependence among low-income, minority, inner city clients. These clients have multiple treatment needs, and like other populations of cocaine-addicted individuals, it can be difficult to entice them to enter treatment, stay in treatment, and effect positive treatment outcomes. Our research has three foci: (1) gaining better awareness of what types of problems we encounter in this population and the best ways of assessing these patient needs, (2) finding ways to increase rates of treatment entry, and (3) improving treatment outcomes. The purpose of this review is to summarize some of our findings in the first two areas, and to present some preliminary data regarding a procedure that appears to be promising for assisting patients in initiating cocaine abstinence and maintaining treatment gains.