摘要：Aim This paper focuses on one part of a sample from a large follow-up study on substance abusers in residential treatment. The aim of the paper is to describe the abstinent group prior to and in the first two years following residential treatment in Denmark. Method The present paper is based on data collected in a follow-up study on substance abusers in residential treatment. The data were collected in the initial phase of treatment and twice in follow up interviews, respectively half a year and two years after termination of treatment, primarily through the use of a Danish version of EuropASI. Results and Conclusion The study shows that few differences are found in the comparison of data prior to treatment, and that major differences appear in the years following treatment. In comparison to the non-abstinent groups the abstinent group has to a greater extent established itself in the labour market or in the educational system, and managed to establish and maintain a network of drug free friends and family, including contact with self-help organizations as the NA. The problem severity as measured with the EuropASI is found to have some shortcomings when it comes to evaluating and describing subjects with a very low degree of problem severity.
