Client Engagement

Individuals who abuse alcohol and/or illicit drugs are notorious for missing scheduled intake and treatment sessions, arriving late to scheduled sessions, and demonstrating poor participation and compliance during treatment sessions. According to a review of the research by Noelle L. Lefforge, Brad Donohue, and Marilyn J. Strada, 50% of all initial scheduled sessions are attended in mental health settings whereas the attendance rates for initial sessions in substance abuse settings are often as low as 30%. There are many contributing factors that have been identified in the literature that contribute to poor clinic attendance rates in those with substance use disorders. Some of these factors have been directly related to substance use (e.g., oversleeping, hangover effects, apathy, poor concentration, memory loss), whereas other influences are ...