Chemical dependency treatment programs provide services to a heterogeneous population of clients with different mental health problems, legal statuses, substance abuse patterns, and chemical dependency treatment histories. These clients often enter treatment with more severe problems across a variety of life domains. Analyses were conducted to identify sub-populations among 331 publicly funded clients receiving substance abuse treatment through a managed-care or fee-for-service treatment managing system. Three structured interviews were conducted at six-month intervals and included six sub-scales of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Baseline severity scores and 6- and 12-month treatment outcome scores were assessed on each dimension of the ASI among the different subpopulations. Analyses identified clients who had received mental health services at least once in their lifetime, used more than one substance six months prior to entering drug treatment, or had at least one episode of detoxification as subpopulations with significantly higher severity baseline scores on at least four out of six ASI scales compared with clients who did not have these characteristics. Follow-up results showed positive effects of chemical dependency treatment for all sub-populations on drug, alcohol, psychiatric, and legal ASI scores. Nonetheless, these subpopulations continued to report more alcohol, drug, and psychiatric problems than the general treatment population 12-months following treatment. These findings suggest that although sub-populations with more severe and multiple problems show similar patterns of improvement, more intense and targeted treatment services may be necessary to produce absolute outcomes similar to the general population of clients receiving chemical dependency treatment.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to identify sub-populations of clients entering substance abuse treatment and recognize their need for targeted treatment services
Keywords: Treatment Outcomes, Vulnerable Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.