Constance Weisner, DrPH, MSW¹, Jennifer Mertens, MA², Stacy Sterling, MPH, MSW³, and Sujaya Parthasarathy, PhD³. (1) KP Division of Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 2000 Broadway Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-891-3599, constance.weisner@kp.org, (2) Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612-2304

Several studies have shown that identifying and responding to substance abuse problems in primary care can be effective. Less is known about the role of primary care in addressing problems after treatment. At the same time, research also shows that individuals receiving chemical dependency treatment have higher rates of medical problems than individuals without substance abuse problems. This paper examines the importance of regular, annual primary care on 5 year substance abuse outcomes. The sample (N=1206) is from an outpatient chemical dependency program in Northern California Kaiser Permanente, a large managed care health plan. Subjects were interviewed at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the importance of regular medical care each year in the context of demographic, treatment, and other extra-treatment characteristics on alcohol and drug abstinence at 5 years. We found those receiving primary care had higher odds (OR = 2.40, 95% CI=1.37, 4.22) of abstinence. This was significant even for those who did not have a treatment readmission during the five years. Other significant variables were older age and another important environmental variable, recovery-oriented social supports. These findings have important implications for teaching patients how to use primary care after treatment and for linkages with primary care.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify medical problems associated with substance abuse.
• Understand the role of primary care in addressing substance abuse problems and issues in developing linkages between primary care and chemical dependency treatment.
• Understand how primary care may be an important in aftercare.

Keywords: Primary Care, Substance Abuse Treatment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.