Clients' Experiences and Satisfaction with an Integrated Intensive Outpatient Program for Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

Background: Comorbidity between substance use disorders and other mental health conditions is common, yet existing treatments often fail to address its full spectrum. Opportunities for integrated treatment are limited, and the effects of such treatment remain relatively unexplored. This study explores the experiences of individuals with substance use disorders who successfully completed a four-month integrated intensive program at an outpatient addiction-care clinic in western Sweden.

Method: An anonymous survey combining quantitative measures and qualitative open-ended questions was used to evaluate the experiences of 65 clients (out of 117) who completed the program between 2015 and 2021.

Results: The findings revealed that most clients expressed high levels of satisfaction with the program. The mean scores for the questions ranged from 9.17 to 9.35, indicating a generally positive experience. The standard deviations were relatively low (1.17 to 1.34), suggesting consistency in responses. The median scores for all questions were 10, with ranges indicating that most participants rated their experiences at the highest level. The analysis identified three key categories of clients' experiences: (1) strong relationships and a comprehensive treatment approach; (2) engaged, knowledgeable staff who lead with warmth; and (3) opportunities for self-development through novel experiences.

Conclusion: Clients who successfully completed the four-month integrated intensive program reported high satisfaction levels, positive relationships with staff, and valuable self-development insights. However, the high dropout rate limited gaining an understanding of the barriers to program completion, highlighting the need for further research aimed at enhancing retention rates and developing more effective integrated treatment interventions for individuals with substance use disorders.