NCJ Number
179824
Date Published
1998
Length
215 pages
Annotation
A nationally representative survey of 1,799 persons confirms that both drug use and criminal behavior are reduced following inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment for drug abuse.
Abstract
Substance abuse histories on each of the clients were provided by a nationwide sample of 99 drug-treatment facilities. All 1,799 clients were interviewed 5 years following discharge from drug-abuse treatment and were representative of the 976,012 individuals discharged from treatment in 1990. This Services Research Outcomes Study is the first among a series of outcome studies to include a nationally representative sample of drug treatment programs located in rural, suburban, and urban locations. Among the findings on substance abuse are that the overall decrease in the use of any illicit drug following treatment was 21 percent; a 14-percent decline in alcohol use; a 28-percent decline in marijuana use; a 45-percent decline in cocaine use; a 17-percent decline in crack use; and a 14-percent decline in heroin use. The decrease in post-treatment substance abuse was larger among females than males. Adolescents were the exception, however, as they showed a 13-percent increase in alcohol abuse and a 202-percent increase in crack use following treatment. Those remaining in treatment the longest were more likely to reduce or eliminate abuse of substances following treatment. Regarding findings on criminal behavior and lifestyle changes, the survey results confirm the findings of previous studies in showing that treatment for substance abuse can significantly reduce crime. Most criminal activity, including breaking and entering, drug sales, prostitution, driving under the influence, and weapons-use declined by between 23 percent and 38 percent after drug treatment. 73 tables, 38 references, and appended detailed tables