Drug Abuse

Large studies have produced considerable evidence that drug abuse treatment benefits both the individual undergoing treatment and society. The studies have consistently found that a substantial proportion of clients being studied report reductions in drug use and criminal activity following treatment. The studies also show that clients who stay in treatment for longer periods report better outcomes. However, drug abuse treatment research is complicated by methodological challenges that make it hard to accurately measure the extent to which treatment reduced drug use. Although one specific treatment approach--methadone maintenance--has shown to be the most effective treatment for heroin addition, research on the best treatment approach or setting for cocaine addiction or adolescent drug users is less definitive.

GAO noted that: (1) it found that large, multisite, longitudinal studies have produced considerable evidence that drug abuse treatment is beneficial to the individual undergoing treatment and to society; (2) the studies have consistently found that a substantial proportion of clients being studied report reductions in drug use and criminal activity following treatment; (3) the studies also show that clients who stay in treatment for longer periods report better outcomes; (4) however, drug abuse treatment research is complicated by a number of methodological challenges that make it difficult to accurately measure the extent to which treatment reduces drug use; (5) in particular, growing concerns about the validity of self-reported data, which are used routinely in the major evaluations of drug abuse treatment, suggest that the treatment benefit reported by these studies may be somewhat overstated; (6) in addition, the research evidence to support the relative effectiveness of specific treatment approaches or settings for particular groups of drug abusers is limited; and (7) while one specific treatment approach--methadone maintenance--has been shown to be the most effective treatment for heroin addiction, research on the best treatment approach or setting for cocaine addiction or adolescent drug users is less definitive.