title: Matching clients' needs with drug treatment services.
abstract: This paper reports results of a study that investigated whether matching drug treatment services with client needs improved outcomes for a sample of 171 clients who participated in community-based drug treatment programs. Clients were initially assessed on multiple problem areas (alcohol use, drug use, medical, psychological, family/social, legal, employment, housing) and on areas of special needs or stated preferences for services (e.g., transportation, child care, language). A 6-month follow-up interview reassessed clients' problems/needs in all areas and collected information on the services received. The results showed that some services significantly improved client outcome for those who had expressed needs for such services. Notably, services meeting the need for vocational training, child care, transportation, and housing showed beneficial effects. A higher level of needs and services matching (defined either by the ratio of services received to services desired, or by the total level of met versus unmet needs in the eight problem areas) significantly predicted longer treatment retention.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Drug Abuse Research Center, Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, USA. yhser@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Y I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Hser
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Polinsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maglione
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anglin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012944:Social Support; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*