Substance misuse detox and rehabilitation, a qualitative survey of clients and professionals briefing paper by Stephen Wilkinson & Willm Mistral May 2006
Mental Health R&D Unit
a joint unit of Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health  Partnership NHS Trust and University of Bath
Dr Willm Mistral, Research Manager, 01225 38 43 56; W.Mistral@bath.ac.uk

Substance Misuse Detoxification and rehabilitation, A Qualitative Survey of Clients and Professionals
This is a report on an exploratory qualitative research project, in the Wiltshire and Swindon areas during 2005/06, to elicit the experiences and views of clients and staff on Residential Rehabilitation (RR) and In-Patient Detoxification (IPD) for drug and alcohol problems.
Aims
1, to discover what was seen as most and least useful during rehabilitation and substance misuse detox
2, to discover whether pre-placement preparation was seen as beneficial for outcomes.

A steering group, including service users, helped construct a semi-structured questionnaire. This is partly based on prior qualitative research, considering rehabilitation as a process starting and ending in the community. A total of 26 interviews were conducted, 14 clients (10 men and 4 women) and 12 staff. Plus managers of the main drug and alcohol services in the area, including managers of two RR centres.

Client interviewees had drug and alcohol problems and all had received help from services prior to admission. Eleven of the 14 clients were abstinent from drugs and/or alcohol at the time of interview. Also at least six months after discharge. The sample under-represented females and younger drug users and was perhaps biased towards those more favourably disposed towards RR.

Issues Prior to Admission

Abstinence-based RR was perceived as a minority treatment option by referring agencies. Whose main focus is harm reduction and substitute prescribing. Despite proven effectiveness, some staff in some services apparently believe that RR does not work. These disapprove of 12 Step treatment philosophy, and believe RR is elitist.

Although all staff and managers interviewed were positive about the benefits of RR. Some views were influenced by the ability of their own services to provide effective rehabilitation in the community. Prior to admission most clients strongly valued the help they received. Also some had overall distressing experiences as they perceived their agency workers to be unhelpful. Plus on occasions, significantly obstructive to them finally going into rehabilitation.

Assessment

Assessments for RR have improved, with established criteria including: desire for abstinence. Similarly failed attempts to stop or control drug or alcohol use, lack of local support. Plus unsafe to detox in the community, and risk assessment. Further mention was made of clients’ need for safety, motivation, clients therefore needing to relocate. Since being away from home, and that RR was finally a long-term option.

Some concerns were expressed about staff assessment skills, possibly resulting in inappropriate referrals or needs for IPD/RR being overlooked.

Care coordination 

Good quality care coordination appeared essential to maximise RR/Substance misuse detox effectiveness. Care assessment, planning, plus coordination and management have all improved in recent years. Arrangements for aftercare therefore need to be considered before admission. While taking a comprehensive holistic approach to client needs, including childcare. Plus housing, training and education, employment, family and relationship concerns.

This implies skilled keyworking and effective inter-agency collaboration. Understanding, commitment and continuity on the part of key workers seemed evidently essential for clients. This may eventually affect retention in treatment and outcomes. Concern was expressed about the variability of keyworker/ care coordinator involvement. Rural isolation was viewed as making readjustment and access to services more difficult.

Understanding family dynamics was considered essential in helping families cope and to change co-dependency patterns. Little work of this nature takes place in the community therefore the family work undertaken in RR was considered superior. The involvement of families in care planning was in some instances seen as inadequate. Especially neglecting such basics as childcare arrangements whilst parents were in RR.

Three themes emerged as important in terms of perceived help:
1, Quality of relationship with key worker
2, Attitudes of key workers towards rehabilitation (particularly to 12-Step programme)
3, Practical assistance in dealing with the process of admission.

Pre-Placement Preparation

Clients’ preparation for substance misuse detox and/or rehabilitation varied considerably, in terms of the knowledge and information they received beforehand, their understanding and experience of rehabilitation treatment (such as group work), and practical assistance with the rehabilitation process.

Various recommendations were made by participants:

• More written information from key workers / counsellors about detox / rehabilitation.
• Treatment philosophies practiced by different centers.
• Rules and regulations in RR, what could be expected of a typical day
• Prior information about availability and procedures for funding.
• Prior experience of group work
• As regards 12 Step programmes, prior attendance at local NA/AA meetings (perhaps with key workers, as clients are often highly anxious about going alone)
• Liaison with local NA/AA groups, with members coming in to community services to share their experiences
• Former clients of treatment centers to talk about their experiences of substance misuse detox / RR

Staff

All staff interviewed believed good preparation improved RR retention and completion.

• Waiting lists and preparation time were viewed, sometimes inappropriately, as a test of clients’ motivation.
• Educational work; Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Relapse Prevention help clients to engage in treatment and prepare for RR.
• Prior supportive group experience seemed beneficial, along with understanding the 12 Step Programme, and need for abstinence
• The Preparation Group in Trowbridge is described as an example of good practice, having a therapeutic as well as educational function.
• Concerns were that group experience in the community was too intense for some; non-attendance rates were high; it was difficult for clients from rural areas to attend.
• Attention needs to be given to transport, childcare and work arrangements for clients to attend a preparation group.
• Most clients valued visiting RR facilities beforehand, though some were unaware that visits often incorporated assessments, and facilities are often difficult for clients to access, owing to their remote locations.

Funding

• Structured planning to acquire funding for rehabilitation; a clear idea about availability and the length of time before admittance appeared lacking
• Nonetheless, the system has improved, and the fund manager was praised.

Admission / Substance Misuse Detox

1. Clients were highly sceptical of substance misuse detox in general hospitals, particularly with an absence of discharge care plans
2. Staff expressed considerable dissatisfaction with detox in A&E in a crisis, or in the few mental health beds, seeing prejudice against substance misusers (especially drugs).
3. All the clients were positive about their care experiences during detox in RR
4. All participants felt welcomed by RR units and especially valued the ‘buddy’ system to help with induction. There were some concerns about not feeling physically or mentally well enough whilst detoxing to engage in the rehabilitation programme.

Drug Rehabilitation Units

Many different Primary and Secondary RR Units were mentioned, mostly positively. Most clients were very complimentary about the care and expertise of RR staff. Some had found the experience life changing, that it had equipped them with an understanding of the nature of their alcohol/drug dependency, and skills and tools to maintain their recovery. One-toone
Counseling, group therapy and other therapeutic activities all helped, but non-specific factors were also seen as essential. The themes that emerged as important were:

• Experience of being with others with similar problems
• Reduced sense of isolation
• Sense of belonging
• Sense of relief
• Feeling of security and ability to be open and honest
• Motivation for help and change.

Treatment / Therapy

Maintaining abstinence within a therapeutic community is at the heart of RR. All clients interviewed appeared to have benefited from admission. There were one or two exceptions where clients thought the level of therapeutic involvement was not enough, but these people found the overall experience beneficial.

The 12 Step treatment method predominates, but most units incorporate Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Skills-based approaches, such as Assertiveness Training and Anger Management, have also been introduced alongside other activities, such as Yoga, which have resulted in more eclectic therapy. According to clients and staff interviewed, going through the Steps of the 12 Step Programme is often the way for RR clients to understand the disease model of addiction, along with their powerlessness should they pick up a drink or a drug. 

Counsellors facilitate group sessions, give one-to-one help, and assist with case management. Clients learn to support each other in groups, which have become less confrontational than in the past, but rely on honest feedback and acceptance of individual responsibility for future management of addiction. Some women would have preferred female-only groups. Life Stories are produced recounting the effects of drug or alcohol misuse. Most RRs have a range of activities, which help to develop a more normal lifestyle. Involvement with local NA/AA is a usual part of the programme, and reunions for past clients reinforce the hope of recovery. Literacy problems are an issue, particularly with clients from the Criminal Justice system, and some RRs offer adult literacy assistance.