Influence of family and religion on long-term outcomes among opioid addicts.

This study investigated whether family, religion, and personal background variables were related to long-term follow-up outcomes after treatment for drug abuse. The sample consisted of 1,174 opioid addicts admitted to community treatment agencies during 1972-1973 and who were relocated and interviewed in 1978-1979. The results indicated that family and personal background variables made unique contributions to the prediction of a follow-up composite outcome (representing drug use, employment, and criminality) and a general well-being measure. Religion variables accounted for significant and unique variance only in the general well-being variable. The results favor the inclusion of family and religion variables in the scientific explanation of long-term follow-up outcomes among opioid addicts.