title: Wait times for publicly funded addiction and problem gambling treatment agencies in Ontario, Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes the definitions of wait times and intake processes used by drug and problem gambling treatment agencies in Ontario, Canada, as well as the various strategies employed to ameliorate client backlog.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was developed and distributed to 203 publicly-funded, provincial substance use and problem gambling treatment agencies from June to August, 2011. All aspects of the intake process were covered in the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on 139 responses, six different wait time periods were identified. Additional analyses were completed by type of service offered. Suggestions for effective interventions to shorten wait times and recommendations for future research are provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study highlight a need for standardized definitions of wait times across substance use and problem gambling treatment services.
authors.affiliation: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON M5S 1 V4, Canada. rachael.pascoe@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Rachael V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Pascoe
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Nooshin Khobzi
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Rotondi
mesh_terms: D005380:Financing, Government; D005715:Gambling / Q000628:therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists