California Drug and Alcohol Treatment Assessment (CALDATA), 1991-1993

The California Drug and Alcohol Treatment Assessment
(CALDATA) was designed to study the costs, benefits, and effectiveness
of the state's alcohol and drug treatment infrastructure (recovery
services) and specifically to assess (1) the effects of treatment on
participant behavior, (2) the costs of treatment, and (3) the economic
value of treatment to society. Data were collected on participants
(clients) across four types of treatment programs, or modalities:
residential, residential "social model," nonmethadone outpatient, and
outpatient methadone (detoxification and maintenance). Data were
collected in two phases. In Phase 1, treatment records were abstracted
for clients who received treatment or were discharged between October
1, 1991, and September 30, 1992. In Phase 2, these clients were
located and recruited for a follow-up interview. The CALDATA design
and procedures included elements from several national treatment
outcome studies including the Drug Services Research Survey (ICPSR
3393), Services Research Outcomes Study (ICPSR 2691), National
Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (ICPSR 2884), and Drug Abuse
Treatment Outcome Study (ICPSR 2258). The record abstract was designed
to collect identifying and locating information for interview
reference during the personal interviewing phase. The abstract also
collected demographic, drug, or alcohol use, and treatment and service
information. The follow-up questionnaire covered time periods before,
during, and after treatment and focused on topics such as ethnic and
educational background, drug and alcohol use, mental and physical
health, HIV and AIDS status, drug testing, illegal activities and
criminal status, living arrangements and family issues, employment and
income, and treatment for drug, alcohol, and mental health
problems. Drugs included alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines,
cocaine powder, crack, downers, hallucinogens, heroin, illegal
methadone, inhalants, LSD, marijuana/hashish/THC, methamphetamines and
other stimulants, narcotics, over-the-counter drugs, PCP, ritalin or
preludin, and sedatives/hypnotics. CALDATA was originally known as the
California Outcomes Study (COS).