Modes and impact of coercive inpatient treatment for drug-related conditions in Switzerland

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Two forms of institutionalized pressure to treatment can be distinguished in Switzerland: civil commitment and court referral. In court referral, the referred patient has the right to refuse treatment. OBJECTIVES: To compare court referrals for inpatient treatment to voluntary therapy. METHODS: Comparison of interviews at treatment entry and discharge records. RESULTS: There were few systematic differences at entry except for voluntary subjects having had less contact with the legal system before treatment, independently of the specific court referral. At discharge, voluntary patients had a better social integration and fewer legal problems. DISCUSSION: Legal problems waiting for court referrals at discharge may be a significant handicap for reintegration. Otherwise, voluntary patients and court referrals showed few systematic differences in inpatient treatment.