Since successful outcomes often depend upon retaining the person long enough to gain the full benefits of treatment, strategies for keeping an individual in the program are critical. Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program.
Individual factors related to engagement and retention include motivation to change drug-using behavior, degree of support from family and friends, and whether there is pressure to stay in treatment from the criminal justice system, child protection services, employers, or the family.
Within the
program,
successful
counselors
are able to
establish a
positive,
therapeutic
relationship
with the
patient. The
counselor
should
ensure that
a treatment
plan is
established
and followed
so that the
individual
knows what
to expect
during
treatment.
Medical,
psychiatric,
and social
services
should be
available.



