DHS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Releases Landmark Study on the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatment
Springfield, Illinois (October 23, 2001) -- Substance abuse treatment reduces crime, helps put people to work, makes people more healthy and improves family relationships. Those are just some of the findings of the Illinois Statewide Treatment Outcomes Project (ISTOP) released today by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS). The study is the largest evaluation of treatment outcomes by the State to date.
"Based on the results of the ISTOP study, it is clear that clients participating in treatment services in Illinois experience significant reductions in alcohol and other drug use," said DHS Secretary Linda Reneé Baker. "The study also clearly demonstrated that treatment results in a reduction of criminal activity and improvements in employment, physical and mental health and family and social relationships."
Following are some of the highlights from the ISTOP study:
- Six months after admission to treatment, client's reported less alcohol and other drug use. Clients reporting alcohol use decreased from 59% at admission to 30% after 6 months. Marijuana use dropped from 30% to 6%, cocaine dropped from 24% to 6% and heroin use declined from 37% to 6%.
- ISTOP clients experienced improvements in employment. The average number of days in the month where clients earned income increased from 7% for clients entering treatment to nearly 11% six months after treatment. Monthly income from employment increased from $405 to $600.
- The percent of clients engaging in illegal activities decreased from 16% for clients entering treatment to 2% for clients six months after treatment.
- Most of the clients (70%) entering treatment have been in treatment before. Clients averaged 2.1 prior treatment episodes.
- More than one-fifth (21%) of the clients had been hospitalized within a year of entering treatment. Twenty-seven percent reported a chronic health problem.
- Mental health problems were prevalent among ISTOP clients. More than half of those surveyed experienced serious depression and nearly a third (28%) had considered suicide. One fifth (20%) of clients entering treatment had received services for their mental health problems.
- The percent of clients receiving public assistance declined after treatment, yielding a cost savings for ISTOP clients of over $53,000. The potential savings to the whole treatment population is projected to be as much as $33 million.
The study was conducted for the DHS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASA) by Deltametrics, a nationally recognized research firm specializing in the evaluation of substance abuse treatment programs. Nearly 2000 adult patients from 40 treatment programs participated in the study between the years 1998 and 2000.
"The results of this landmark study provide us with important knowledge as we plan for more effective and cost-efficient treatment services that are already successfully serving substance abuse clients," said OASA Associate Director Melanie Whitter. "Specifically, we must continue to develop innovative approaches to treating persons with mental illness and who suffer from emotional, physical or sexual abuse." The ISTOP study is posted on the DHS website at www.state.il.us/agency/dhs/reseasanp.html.