The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51276

Sharon Reif, PhD¹, Constance M. Horgan, ScD², and Grant A. Ritter, PhD². (1) Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454, 781-736-3924, reif@brandeis.edu, (2) Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454

The problems that stem from substance abuse are pervasive and costly for society, as well as directly impacting the individual substance abuser. These include health problems such as HIV and related prevention/treatment costs; crime and criminal justice costs; and other effects, such as child abuse and neglect. Successful treatment is thus a high priority. However, success in substance abuse treatment is often achieved only with great effort, and relapse is common.

This study examined whether ancillary services improve treatment participation and substance abuse outcomes following treatment. Ancillary services address non-substance abuse problems, such as employment, housing, or medical care. It was hypothesized that treatment participation and outcome would improve when ancillary services are provided during substance abuse treatment, as they would reduce the impact of problems that trigger substance use or interfere with the treatment process. The sample was 988 clients interviewed in the Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS), approximately one year following discharge from outpatient non-methadone treatment.

Very few clients received specific ancillary services. Multivariate analyses generally showed that clients who needed a specific ancillary service but did not receive it had substance abuse outcomes equivalent to clients who received the ancillary service. While contrary to the hypothesis, this finding demonstrates that clients with unmet need have the same potential for success following treatment as other clients. Treatment participation increased for clients who received specific services, but it did not relate directly to outcome. Additional findings regarding socially relevant outcomes and policy implications will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• After the session, the participant should understand the relationship of ancillary services to treatment participation and outcome, be able to identify other client, facility and treatment factors relevant to treatment participation and outcome, and discuss outcomes from substance abuse treatment other than substance use measures.

Keywords: Treatment Outcomes, Substance Abuse

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.