NCJ Number
197655
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 37-46
Date Published
2002
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines short and long-term treatment outcomes for individuals receiving substance abuse treatment.
Abstract
Addressing aftercare participation and post-treatment legal problems, this journal article examines short and long-term treatment outcomes of case management in substance abuse treatment programs. After describing case management as a common adjunctive service to substance abuse treatment, the authors detail their study of 453 veterans who obtained substance abuse treatment. Conducted as part of the Enhanced Treatment Project (ETP), a National Institute on Drug Abuse research program, this study used questionnaires and interviews conducted with veterans applying for services from the Polysubstance Rehabilitation Program (PRP) in Dayton, Ohio. Over 98 percent male, research subjects presented a mean age of 38 years old, with 74 representing African-Americans. More than 90 percent of research participants had a high school education or beyond, and more than 25 percent held steady jobs. More than 23 percent of study participants were involved with the legal system either on probation or awaiting parole, and over 65 percent reported cocaine or crack cocaine as their most problematic substance. Bivariate analysis of collected data indicate that case management had a direct positive impact on veterans’ aftercare substance abuse treatment participation, with longer aftercare participation being positively associated with better outcomes in preventing post-treatment criminality. The authors conclude that because case managed veterans stay in aftercare programs longer than do non-case managed clients, leading to better outcomes in post-treatment criminality, case management is an effective substance abuse treatment enhancement. Tables, references