Services Research Outcomes Study (SROS)

  

PRINCIPAL FINDING:

A nationally representative survey of 1,799 persons confirms that both drug use and criminal behavior are reduced following inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment for drug abuse.

The Services Research Outcomes Study (SROS), the first nationally representative study of substance abuse treatment outcomes, confirms that both drug use and criminal behavior are reduced following drug abuse treatment—inpatient, outpatient and residential.

These positive findings were determined through a survey of 1,799 (71.4% male and 28.6% female) persons. Substance abuse histories on each of the clients were provided by a nationwide sample of 99 drug treatment facilities. All 1,799 clients were interviewed five years following discharge from drug abuse treatment and are representative of the 976,012 individuals discharged from treatment in 1990. The SROS is the first among a series of outcome studies to include a nationally representative sample of drug treatment programs located in rural, suburban and urban locations. Major findings include:

FINDINGS ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE

•The overall drop in the use of any illicit drug following treatment was 21 percent; a 14 percent decline in alcohol use; 28 percent in marijuana use; 45 percent in cocaine use; 17 percent in crack use; and a 14 percent drop in the heroin use.

•The decrease in post-treatment substance abuse was larger among females than males.•

•Adolescents were the exception, showing a 13 percent increase in alcohol abuse and a 202 percent increase in crack use following treatment.

•Those remaining in treatment the longest were more likely to reduce or eliminate abuse of substances following treatment.

FINDINGS ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES

•Survey results confirm those of previous studies showing that treatment for substance abuse can significantly reduce crime.

•Most criminal activity, including breaking and entering, drug sales, prostitution, driving under the influence and weapons use declined by between 23 and 38 percent after drug treatment.

•Older age groups were more likely to reduce their post-treatment criminal activities than were younger groups.

•Involvement in physical abuse and suicide attempts declined following treatment.•

•There was a noticeable shift toward regaining and retaining child custody after drug abuse treatment.

•More reliable housing was secured following treatment.

   

This page was last updated on June 03, 2008.

SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.