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Original Research
Online Published: 11 Sep 2026
 
RMJ. 2026; 51(4): 1039-1042


Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration

Muhammad Shakeel, Khalid Rehman, Waleed Ahmad, Laiba Wajid, Zaima Bibi, Syed Abbas Ali Shah.


Abstract
Objective: To assess the association between abstinence duration in protected rehabilitation centers and relapse within three months after community reintegration, and to identify factors associated with relapse.
Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical study used consecutive sampling to recruit eligible participants from six rehabilitation centers. Participants had completed at least two weeks of inpatient abstinence and remained in the community for three months after discharge. Of 283 screened, 213 were analyzed. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using a predesigned questionnaire, supplemented by telephonic screening, guardian reports where applicable, and medical record review. Three-month relapses (any substance use) were the primary outcome. Binary logistic regression assessed factors associated with relapse.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 28.8±8.6 years, with 91.1% male. Polysubstance use occurred in 95.3%, and methamphetamine was the primary substance in 58.2%. Overall, 50.7% relapsed within three months, with 82.4% relapsing in the first month. Longer pre-admission substance use (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.14-1.41), more previous quit attempts (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.15-1.95), living outside the family (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.31-2.16), and post-discharge unemployment (OR 4.92, 95% CI 2.41-10.02) were independently associated with relapse. Compared with >3 months’ abstinence, shorter durations were not significantly associated with relapses.
Conclusion: In low-resource rehabilitation settings, enforced abstinence alone does not significantly reduce early relapse. These findings support continuing community-based relapse-prevention care rather than relying on duration of institutional abstinence alone.

Key words: Substance use disorders, relapse, abstinence duration, community reintegration.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Shakeel M, Rehman K, Ahmad W, Wajid L, Bibi Z, Shah SAA. Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. RMJ. 2026; 51(4): 1039-1042.

Web Style

Shakeel M, Rehman K, Ahmad W, Wajid L, Bibi Z, Shah SAA. Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. https://www.rmj.org.pk/?mno=324457 [Access: November 11, 2026].

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shakeel M, Rehman K, Ahmad W, Wajid L, Bibi Z, Shah SAA. Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. RMJ. 2026; 51(4): 1039-1042.


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shakeel M, Rehman K, Ahmad W, Wajid L, Bibi Z, Shah SAA. Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. RMJ. (2026), [cited November 11, 2026]; 51(4): 1039-1042.


Harvard Style

Shakeel, M., Rehman, . K., Ahmad, . W., Wajid, . L., Bibi, . Z. & Shah, . S. A. A. (2026) Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. RMJ, 51 (4), 1039-1042.


Turabian Style

Shakeel, Muhammad, Khalid Rehman, Waleed Ahmad, Laiba Wajid, Zaima Bibi, and Syed Abbas Ali Shah. 2026. Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. Rawal Medical Journal, 51 (4), 1039-1042.


Chicago Style

Shakeel, Muhammad, Khalid Rehman, Waleed Ahmad, Laiba Wajid, Zaima Bibi, and Syed Abbas Ali Shah. "Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration." Rawal Medical Journal 51 (2026), 1039-1042.


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shakeel, Muhammad, Khalid Rehman, Waleed Ahmad, Laiba Wajid, Zaima Bibi, and Syed Abbas Ali Shah. "Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration." Rawal Medical Journal 51.4 (2026), 1039-1042. Print.


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shakeel, M., Rehman, . K., Ahmad, . W., Wajid, . L., Bibi, . Z. & Shah, . S. A. A. (2026) Impact of abstinence duration in protected environment and associated factors on relapse rates following community reintegration. Rawal Medical Journal, 51 (4), 1039-1042.



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