The treatment drop-out experiences of inpatients treated in an addiction clinic: a mixed method study

Background The issue of low adherence, persistence, and continuation rates, coupled with high dropout rates, represents a significant challenge in the field of addiction treatment. It is therefore of paramount importance to gain an understanding of the underlying causes of treatment discontinuation. The objective of this study was to examine the experiences of individuals who were treated in an inpatient clinic for addiction in Türkiye and subsequently discontinued their treatment. Method In order to ascertain the reasons behind the decision to terminate 21-day inpatient treatment, face-to-face interviews were conducted with six participants who had voluntarily discontinued their treatment between March and June 2022. A parallel mixed-methods approach was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Results Findings revealed a prevalence of amphetamine derivative use among participants. Factors such as individual characteristics, environment, treatment protocols, and operational aspects influenced treatment outcomes. Participants exhibited high levels of addiction, which played a significant role in their decision to discontinue treatment. Conclusions These findings can inform the development of more effective treatment protocols and support strategies to improve adherence and reduce dropout rates.