How to Reduce No-Show Rates in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Effective substance abuse treatment programs help addicted individuals to stop taking addictive substances, to then maintain this substance-free lifestyle and to be able to function productively within their families, at work and in society. Because addiction is chronic, treatment must be long-term and individual and group counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of substance abuse treatment.
Although treatment needn't be voluntary to be effective, sometimes the hardest part of treatment is getting members to their program meetings. Certain strategies have proven helpful to reduce no-shows in substance abuse programs.

Things You'll Need

• Postcards

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Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Place reminder calls. Calling the treatment program member within 48 hours of the scheduled visit in order to remind her of the appointment can increase the percentage of members who show up.

• 2

  Provide motivational information about the treatment program. Inform the members in the first session meeting that attendance at the scheduled meetings significantly increases the probability that they will remain clean and sober.

• 3

  Ask members to make a verbal commitment to the group. At the end of a session, request that each member of the group pledge to be at the next meeting.

• 4

  Encourage feedback and participation. At the end of a session, ask members what they found most helpful about the meeting. This makes them feel more involved and helps you to plan the next session based on their responses.

• 5

  Discuss obstacles that prevent members from attending the meetings. If there are problems, ask what you can do to help them make it to their treatment sessions?

• 6

  Contact a member after he doesn't show up for a meeting. If someone misses his sheduled appointment, call to let the person know that he was missed. Ask why he didn't attend and how he plans to get to the next meeting.