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“ Addiction treatment is as effective as treatments for other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

- National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1999.

“Research shows that every dollar invested in treatment yields a $7 savings related to crime alone. When health care costs are factored into the equation, the savings approach $12 for every $1 invested in treatment.”

-National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1999

“The benefits of effective treatment include reducing drug use, medical visits, welfare dependency, homelessness, criminal activity and unemployment.”

-US Department of Health and Human Services, 2000.

photoTreatment Works!

Americans increasingly recognize that alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases with consequences that affect both physical and behavioral health. Treatment enables a great many people to find recovery and rebuild productive lives. The wide-ranging benefits of effective treatment include reducing drug use, medical visits, welfare dependency, homelessness, criminal activity and unemployment.1

Treatment for addiction is as effective as treatments for other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.2 Research shows conclusively that successful prevention and treatment leads to reductions in traffic fatalities, crime, unwanted pregnancy, child abuse, HIV, cancer and heart disease. Treatment reduces drug use, improves health, improves job performance, reduces involvement with the criminal justice system, reduces family dysfunction and improves the individual's quality of life.

The evidence demonstrates that treatment not only saves lives, it also saves dollars that would otherwise be spent in other areas of medical care and social services . Every dollar invested in treatment yields a $7 savings related to crime alone. When health care costs are factored into the equation, the savings approach $12 for every $1 invested in treatment.3

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy: 'Drug Abuse In America'   (www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov) , one year after treatment;

  • Illegal drug use is decreased by 50%,
  • Illegal activity is decreased by 60%,
  • Drug Selling decreased by nearly 80%,
  • Arrests decreased by more than 60%,
  • Homelessness dropped by 43%,
  • Receipt of welfare reduced by 11%, and
  • Employment increased by 20%.
The Comprehensive Assessment Treatment Outcomes Registry Data in Ohio have documented dramatic results in decreasing occupational problems, including the following reductions after treatment;
  • Absenteeism decreased by 89%,
  • Tardiness decreased by 92%,
  • Problems with supervisors decreased by 56%,
  • Mistakes in work decreased by 70%, and
  • Incomplete work decreased by 81%.4
Additionally, a California Study found significant decreased health care costs from before to after treatment in;
  • Hospitalizations for physical health problems (-36%),
  • Drug overdose hospitalizations (-58%),
  • Mental health hospitalizations (-44%),
  • The number of emergency room visits (-36%), and
  • The total number of hospital days (-25%).5

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DAAC's Results

To ensure that our programs are consistently offering quality services, DAAC works with an independent research organization to evaluate our programs and publish a semi-annual outcome study.

Former clients are interviewed approximately 6 months after completing treatment to evaluate their quality of life post-treatment. Topics covered include drug and alcohol use after treatment, family issues, living situations and stability, relationships, health issues, employment and criminal justice involvement.

According to the latest survey, published in November of 2003, the following outcomes were met for clients completing treatment at DAAC;

  • 75% use no drugs and 18% use less drugs once they have completed treatment,
  • 63% drink no alcohol at all and 26% drink less after completing treatment,
  • 71% of the clients who had Child Protective Services involvement prior to their treatment programs at DAAC were reunited with their children and living with them after discharge,
  • 94% of clients felt that their living situations were stable post-treatment,
  • 98% did not have to be hospitalized for problems relating to substance abuse post-treatment, and
  • 57% of those employed worked more than they did before treatment.

1 US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. November 2000. 'Changing the Conversation. Improving Substance Abuse Treatment: The National Treatment Plan Initiative. Panel Reports, Public Hearings and Participant Acknowledgements.' Page 73-74.

2 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. October 1999.

3 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide
(NIH Publication No. 99-4180). Washington DC. 1999

4 Ohio Dept. of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, New Standards, Inc., St. Paul, MN, 1994.

5 Gerstein, et al, "Evaluating Recovery Services: the California Drug and Alcohol Assessment," Sacramento, 1994.

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