Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118131

Thomas M. Brady, PhD, Medstat, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 330, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 719-7871, thomas.brady@thomson.com

Background: Earlier studies of methadone treatment found few comprehensive services offered at opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Regulations required OTPs to combine opioid substitution therapies such as methadone maintenance with rehabilitative services to address psychological and social problems of opioid-dependent clients. In response to these studies, several initiatives were launched to improve treatment practice. It is not clear, however, if the level of services at OTPs is comparable to other addiction treatment facilities. This study compares the availability of core and ancillary services at outpatient OTPs with other outpatient facilities. Method: Data from the 2003 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), a census of current addiction treatment facilities (n=13,623), were used. Outpatient OTPs that did not offer maintenance therapies (only detoxification services) were excluded (n=61). Core and ancillary services at the remaining outpatient OTPs (n=911) were compared to outpatient non-OTP facilities (n=9,921). Findings: Between outpatient OTPs and non-OTP facilities, the availability of individual therapy and comprehensive substance abuse assessments were similar. Non-OTPs (90.3 percent) were more likely than OTPs (77.2 percent) to provide group therapy. Only 26.3 percent of OTPs offered comprehensive mental health assessments compared to 49.1 percent of non-OTPs. OTPs were more likely to offer drug testing urine screens, employment counseling, case management, and HIV or AIDS education, counseling or support services. Discussion: The availability of many core and ancillary services at OTPs is similar and in some instances superior to non-OTPs. The lack of mental health assessments at OTPs, however, may be a cause for concern.

Learning Objectives:

• State at least two key findings from previous NIH, IOM or GAO reports on areas for improvement in methadone maintenance practice;
• Provide at least four examples of core and ancillary services commonly offered at addiction treatment programs; Compare and contrast the availability of these at OTP and non-OTP facilities.
• State the rates of psychiatric co-morbidity among addiction treatment clients and justify the use of mental health assessment and services among this population.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.