Effective and inexpensive procedures for decreasing client attrition in an outpatient alcohol treatment program.

Dropout rates in alcohol treatment programs are typically quite high. Three studies with outpatient alcohol abusers investigated several different follow-through procedures designed to increase the return rate of clients who prematurely drop out of treatment. Subjects were also asked why they had abruptly left treatment. Inexpensive letter and telephone follow-through procedures were found to be effective at reducing early client attrition and at providing valuable information about the fate of dropouts.