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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Regina H. Powers, PhD, JD, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Bldg., Rm. 16-105, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-1596, rpowers@samhsa.gov
This project examines whether treatment for substance abuse results in higher productivity, as shown by a greater likelihood of subsequent legitimate employment and higher wages. The project uses data from SAMHSA's recent Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS), a national survey of substance abuse treatment facilities and clients. ADSS includes 1996-1999 data from a representative sample of about 2,400 substance abuse treatment facilities, a record-based survey of over 5,000 clients during a 6-month time period, and follow-up personal interviews and drug urine tests of a sample of clients and a comparison group. Using a subsample of the ADSS dataset and following the literature in labor economics, multivariate models of wages are estimated, with controls for sample selection based on employment. Along with labor market outcomes, the project also considers the impact of treatment on illegal activity using two-equation models of criminal and legal work activity. Measures of "problem severity," such as frequency of use and duration of use, as well as indicators of program characteristics, such as treatment duration, job training, and contact with parole officers, are included as explanatory variables. Preliminary results show that duration of treatment has a positive effect on employment and wages and a negative impact on the likelihood of drug-related crime.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Economic Analysis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.