NCJ Number
162178
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 115-134
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates multiple-site methadone maintenance programs in three California counties.
Abstract
Survivorship analysis is the statistical technique used in this evaluation. Multiple outcome measures were obtained from retrospective interviews with 297 heroin addicts 6 to 8 years after admission to treatment. These measures were rates of retention, incarceration, addiction, crime, dealing, and loss of employment. Survival curves for all six measures are consistent in showing that Los Angeles County had the best outcomes, followed by San Bernardino County and Orange County. The authors conclude that survivorship analysis is an excellent technique for presenting data showing treatment effects, and the use of the associated statistical tests enhances a researcher's ability to effectively summarize differences. A major innovation in this paper is the use of multiple outcome measures, which were chosen because they optimally delineated the desired outcomes of treatment, i.e., methadone programs should produce desirable effects other than preventing heroin readdiction. Tables, figures, references