This is the first practice research study to examine the feasibility of increasing the retention rate
for a therapeutic community program for drug abusers. The effects of a short-term, cognitive- behavioral intervention were analyzed by use of a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control
group design involving 22 new admissions. The Beck Depression Inventory and Problem-Solving
Inventory were administered in pretest-posttest format, with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire administered at posttreatment. Results revealed a retention rate of 100% for the treatment
group, compared to 27% for the untreated group, at 60 days. The results are discussed in terms
of their applications to social work practice.
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