Background: Research on the prevalence and significance of previous treatment is limited, but indicates that many drug agency clients have had prior drug treatment experiences. Furthermore, treatment experienced drug users have different characteristics from treatment novices at treatment entry and poorer outcomes at follow up.
Methods: Data from a national longitudinal study of drug users entering treatment in Scotland were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques to provide the first systematic comparison of treatment experienced and treatment naïve drug users in the UK. Respondents (n=653) were interviewed on four separate occasions (treatment intake, 8 months, 16 months, and 33 months) using structured questionnaires.
Results: Five hundred and fifty-eight individuals (85.5%) had had some form of previous treatment and many reported multiple previous treatments, most commonly substitute drugs. At treatment intake, treatment experienced respondents had worse drug use and life problems than treatment novices. Very high levels of illicit drug use (>85%) were reported by both treatment experienced and treatment naïve drug users at all follow-ups, with no significant differences between the two groups at any time point.
Conclusions: Drug users entering treatment in Scotland have routinely had multiple earlier treatments and report high levels of illicit drug use at follow up. Contrary to some earlier research, there is no evidence that those who are treatment experienced have worse drug use outcomes than those who are treatment naïve. Findings add to the international literature on prior treatment experiences and new treatment clients' needs.