changes in health

Substance abuse is known to be a major contributor to poor physical and mental health, and abusers use a disproportionately high percentage of physical and mental health services. Improvements in the mental and physical health of clients after treatment benefit the treated individuals, their significant others, and society.

This is illustrated in Table 4, which shows that:

  • Alcohol/drug-related medical visits dramatically declined following treatment, decreasing 53 percent;

  • While a very small base (2 percent of respondents) reported TB problems, that number was cut in half (55 percent) following treatment;

  • Those bothered by mental health problems declined by 35 percent; and

  • Those who reported inpatient mental health visits decreased by 28 percent.
  • table

    NTIES Table of Contents | Introduction | Conclusions | Appendix | NTIES Findings on: Drug and Alcohol Use | Changes in Criminal Behavior | Employment, Income, and Homelessness | Changes in Physical and Mental Health | Changes in Sexual Behavior | Variation in Treatment Outcomes | Costs of Treatment