The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46118

Kathleen C. Thomas, PhD¹, Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD¹, Thomas D'Aunno, PhD², and Kathleen Holladay³. (1) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste.302, Willowcrest Bldg., CB #3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (919)966-3387, kathleen_thomas@unc.edu, (2) School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, 969 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 66037, (3) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste.302, Willowcrest Bldg., CB#3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Current evidence suggests that substance abuse service relationships with mental health, primary care, and other support services are crucial if the comorbidities associated with substance abuse are to be effectively treated. Yet little is now known about the costs and efficiencies associated with these relationships. As a first step toward learning how to measure the costs of substance abuse service relationships and their impacts on client outcomes, this study seeks to obtain qualitative data from 6 substance abuse agencies with a range of characteristics. The intent is to assess agency directors' insights regarding those aspects of substance abuse service relationships that most impact client outcomes, the costs of maintaining those relationships, and the most important outcomes. Site visits to substance abuse agencies will allow open-ended discussion with key informants so that they may fully express their views, where there are differences of opinion within the agency, or political issues not easily made evident by survey data. Data from a study of Substance Abuse Service Linkages and Managed Care provide the sampling frame and background for the current study. These data describe the service relationships maintained between a national sample of 62 substance abuse agencies and up to six other mental health and primary care agencies they nominate as most important for meeting the needs of their clients. These data also provide background information about agency and client characteristics. These insights from substance abuse agencies will serve toward building a consensus on the outcomes of substance abuse service relationships.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe substance abuse agency directors' insights on those aspects of service relationships that most impact client outcomes and the costs of maintaining those relationships.
• Describe substance abuse agency directors' insights into which client outcomes are most impacted by service relationships.
• Assess where there is consensus, and where disparate views, on the outcomes of substance abuse service relationships.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.