An Investigation of the Feasibility of Predicting Outcome Indices in the Treatment of Heroin Addiction

Abstract

Demographic and biographic intake variables were obtained for human heroin addicts prior to treatment in 1 of 2 different types of residential treatment programs. Length of treatment, further categorized into split-stay categories, was chosen as the criterion because of its importance from the standpoint of program management. Subsequent stepwise regression procedures resulted in 11 variables of sufficient predictability to account for about 30% of the variability in the split-stay criterion. The employment of the derived equation resulted in correct classification in about 75% of the cases. The feasibility of the model was demonstrated. Implications for the use of this type of prediction model were discussed.