title: Racial disparities in substance abuse treatment and the ecological fallacy.
abstract: This study examined engagement in treatment in substance abuse treatment programs that treated primarily either African American or White clients. Findings showed higher levels of engagement in White programs; however, engagement of African Americans in White programs was similar to that of Whites and was greater than Whites in African American programs. No significant differences emerged when a mixed model analysis considered additional variables of staff consensus (regarding treatment elements), treatment climate, acceptance of Medicaid clients, the proportion mandated to treatment, and the quality of the physical space. Although African American programs may show poorer levels of engagement than White programs, attribution of engagement in treatment to client level race/ethnicity should be made with caution.
authors: National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), New York, NY 10010, USA. melnick@ndri.org
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Melnick
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Duncan
authors: Azure
authors: A
authors: Thompson
authors: Harry K
authors: HK
authors: Wexler
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Chaple
authors: Charles M
authors: CM
authors: Cleland
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data