In contrast with some prior research in alcohol samples which found that abstinence goals predicted better 12-month outcomes (Adamson et al., 2010), we did not find that baseline abstinence goals were independently predictive of the probability of relapse through 9 years. That our findings differed is likely due to the longer time frame studied here. Intentions to abstain on treatment entry may fade over time, particularly when not reinforced by support such as longer treatment stays and 12-step participation, both of which predicted better outcomes here.
