Article 4
Treatment Outcomes of Substance Abusing Males: A 90-day Residential Treatment Programme in Barbados
Jerine Griffith
The Substance Abuse Foundation Inc., Verdun House, St. John,
Barbados
Colin Ross
The Colin A. Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma, Richardson, Texas,
USA
Abstract
Substance use disorders are a serious problem in Barbados and in the Caribbean generally. Only a small amount of treatment outcome research has been conducted in the Caribbean, however, and none in Barbados. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted post-discharge interviews with 113 individuals discharged from a residential treatment center for men in Barbados. The results showed that half of the residents maintained sobriety and abstinence for a sustained period of time, five years or more, and half reported ongoing participation in 12-Step Programmes and events at the treatment center. Being employed and married both increased the likelihood of maintaining abstinence. Future research should attempt to identify risk factors for relapse and treatment interventions that can reduce relapse rates. The study is a preliminary at- tempt to gauge abstinence post-treatment.