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Employment Outcomes of Indigent Clients Receiving Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Washington State

NCJ Number
182814
Author(s)
Thomas Wickizer Ph.D.; Jutta Joesch Ph.D.; Dario Longhi Ph.D.; Antoinette Krupski Ph.D.; Kenneth Stark MBA
Date Published
April 1997
Length
60 pages
Annotation
Responding to the need for improved information on effective approaches to treating alcohol and other drug abuse, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services sponsored a project to evaluate treatment outcomes for indigent clients in relation to employment and earnings.
Abstract
The project had the following objectives: (1) to describe client earnings and employment status over time; (2) to assess whether employment outcomes were influenced by type or duration of treatment; (3) to determine what types of clients benefited most from treatment; and (4) to analyze treatment benefits in relation to costs. The project population included indigent clients who were assessed for treatment during a 4-month period beginning in August 1989. Earnings decreased over the 12-month period prior to treatment, especially for clients whose alcohol or drug dependence was severe. Clients with severe dependency had substantially lower earnings throughout the pre-treatment period and experienced a larger relative decrease in earnings. Treatment duration was positively associated with employment and earnings, although days of inpatient treatment had a greater relative effect than days of outpatient treatment. The largest incremental gains in post-treatment earnings were associated with the initial stage of inpatient treatment, but important gains were also associated with recovery house care. Completing the full continuum of treatment was an important outcome predictor. Treatment benefits compared favorably with treatment costs with respect to enhanced earnings. Policy implications of the findings are discussed. Additional information on the project methodology and findings is appended. 52 references, 3 tables, and 14 figures

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