The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54981

Andrea N. Kopstein, PhD, MPH, SAMHSA/CSAT/DSI/PIB, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 7-40, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-3491, akopstei@samhsa.gov

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment(CSAT) is establishing the National Treatment Outcomes Monitoring System (NTOMS) in order to enhance its ability to evaluate the substance abuse treatment system. NTOMS will be a real-time monitoring system providing reporting on access to (by collecting waiting time statistics) and outcomes from drug abuse treatment. NTOMS will use a nationally representative sample of patients receiving treatment for psychoactive substance dependence in specialist treatment programs, regardless of funding source. The planned modules of NTOMS are (1) program information (including access data and staffing information), (2) patient information, (3) treatment services information, (4) a discharge module, and (5) a follow-up module which will be a sample of those admitted to treatment (this includes biomarkers for substance use). The Addiction Severity Index is a key component of NTOMS and will provide information on the nature and severity of family, medical, psychiatric, employment, legal, and substance (alcohol and drug) use problems. The NTOMS admission module will also integrate methodology for estimating the prevalence of hardcore drug use. This methodology is called the Random Access Monitoring of Narcotic Addicts (RAMONA) and uses a mathematical model of the "drug use career" to develop national estimates of hardcore drug use. NTOMS will provide a scientifically sound means for measuring progress in the treatment of substance abuse, one of the most significant chronic disease problems facing this country. This paper will discuss the development and initiation of this new surveillance system. NTOMS will be in the field in the summer of 2003.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to:
• Recognize the contributions the National Treatment Outcomes Monitoring System (NTOMS) is designed to provide to the Substance Abuse treatment field
• Articulate the components of the NTOMS data system
• Discuss the utility of NTOMS with treatment providers and State and other stakeholders.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Evaluation

Related Web page: samhsa.gov

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
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.