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Drug Abuse Treatment Process: A Review of the Literature (From Workshop on Drugs and Crime, December 1986 -- See NCJ-115196)

NCJ Number
115201
Author(s)
M Allison; R L Hubbard
Date Published
1986
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This review of the literature on drug abuse treatment describes the three major treatment modalities (outpatient methadone, residential, and outpatient drug-free) and reviews general studies of drug abuse treatment.
Abstract
The descriptions of the major treatment modalities outline the objectives and approaches of each modality and addresses a number of issues associated with each modality. The review of general studies of drug abuse treatment focuses on studies of retention, counselor characteristics, program policies and goals, the nature and extent of services received by clients, the context in which treatment is administered, methadone dosage levels, and other such variables. Various treatment typologies are presented and discussed. One conclusion from this review is that no coherent, integrated picture emerges for the many and varied drug treatment activities. Although the main characteristics of treatment in the major modalities are known, questions about the nature of the treatment received by clients and the differences among programs both within and across modalities remain largely unanswered. Also, studies do not take into account the complex relationships among a broad range of variables; therefore, the nature of their contribution to the treatment process and outcome is unknown. 153 references.