NCJ Number
188556
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A study of the effectiveness, benefits, and costs of alcohol and drug treatment in California took place from September 1992 through March 1994 and used State databases, provider records, and follow-up interviews with participants in treatment.
Abstract
The main data source was a voluntary survey of publicly supported treatment participants. The study participants were selected at random from treatment or discharge lists from four types of programs, including both residential and community-based programs. The sample of approximately 3,000 individuals represented the nearly 150,000 individuals in treatment. The research completed interviews with more than 1,850 individuals an average of 15 months after treatment. Results revealed treatment costs of $209 million and savings of $1.5 billion during treatment and in the first year afterwards. The savings resulted mostly from reductions in crime. The cost-benefit ratios for society ranged from 2 to 1 to more than 4 to 1, depending on the treatment type; however, methadone treatment that ended in discharge resulted in net losses, mainly from participants’ earnings losses. Benefits persisted for participants followed as long as 2 years. Results also revealed that treatment resulted in reductions in crime, alcohol and drug use, and health care. The analysis concluded that drug treatment programs were a good investment. Figure