Private substance abuse treatments: are some programs more effective than others?

FRANÇAIS :
Cette étude compare les caractéristiques des populations, le type, le nombre et les résultats de traitements après 6 mois de 4 programmes privés de traitement de la toxicomanie. Les patients sont des alcooliques et/ou cocaïnomanes adressés par un même employeur. Les résultats après 6 mois indiquent des améliorations significatives pour tout l'échantillon. 59% sont complètement abstinents, 82% travaillent et seulement 8% nécessitent une nouvelle prise en charge. Il y a des différences significatives entre les programmes pour les degrés d'amélioration et les résultats après 6 mois. Les différences d'efficacité sont liées à des différences de la nature et du nombre de traitements proposés. (A partir du résumé de la revue)
ENGLISH :
The present study compared the patient populations, treatment services provided and six-month outcomes of employed, insured patients referred by an employee assistance program to four private treatment programs (two inpatient and two outpatient). Subjects were alcohol and/or cocaine dependent males referred from a single employer. Ninety-four percent were successfully contacted at six-month follow-up, with confirmatory urinalysis and breathalyzer samples taken. Three results were obtained. First, there were significant and pervasive improvements shown in the total sample at follow-up. Fifty-nine percent were completely abstinent, 82% were working and only 8% required re-treatment. Second, there were significant differences among the programs in levels of improvement and six-month outcomes. Finally, the differences in efficacy were related to the differences in the nature and amount of treatment services provided. (Author' s abstract)