title: Using administrative data for longitudinal substance abuse research.
abstract: The utilization of administrative data in substance abuse research has become more widespread than ever. This selective review synthesizes recent extant research from 31 articles to consider what has been learned from using administrative data to conduct longitudinal substance abuse research in four overlapping areas: (1) service access and utilization, (2) underrepresented populations, (3) treatment outcomes, and (4) cost analysis. Despite several notable limitations, administrative data contribute valuable information, particularly in the investigation of service system interactions and outcomes among substance abusers as they unfold and influence each other over the long term. This critical assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of using existing administrative data within a longitudinal framework should stimulate innovative thinking regarding future applications of administrative data for longitudinal substance abuse research purposes.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA. laevans@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Grella
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Yih-Ing
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Hser
mesh_terms: D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012107:Research Design; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States