Changes in use of crack cocaine after drug misuse treatment: 4-5 year follow-up results from the National Treatment Outcome Research Study (NTORS)

Crack cocaine outcomes at 4-5 years are reported for 496 drug users recruited from UK treatment programmes, About one-third used crack at intake and at 4 5 years. The results shock different outcome profiles. For crack users at intake. use was more than halved at follow-up. Among non-crack-Users at intake, about a quarter used crack during follow-up, of whom about two-thirds had never used crack before. Polydrug use and use of other stimulants were associated with using crack. Crack users reported worse acquisitive crime and psychological health Outcomes. About 10%, reported injecting crack. The reductions in crack use are encouraging. but the onset of crack use among many non-Users at intake suggests the need to develop more effective treatment interventions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.