Services Research Outcomes Study, 1995-1996: [United States]

The Services Research Outcomes Study (SROS) sought to answer questions about drug treatment efficacy and to describe client characteristics. The study was designed to provide (1) a 1990 cohort of clients to use as baseline for possible changes in treatment outcomes following increased funding to the national treatment system in the 1990s, (2) a before-to-after comparison to measure outcomes of treatment provided in 1990, (3) a follow-up of drug treatment clients five years after treatment to assess the level of sustained improvements in abstinence, and (4) a first look at multiple treatment episodes before and after treatment in a 1990 population.Part 1 is the Facility Director Interviews and covered topics such as facility staff and organization, revenue and charges, staff hours and compensation, costs, and program characteristics.Part 2 is the Client Records Abstractions Data, which examined the client records of 2,222 individuals discharged during 1989-1990. Information was abstracted on demographic characteristics of clients, criminal justice involvement, medical conditions, drug history including intravenous drug use, urine test results, drug treatment history, treatment services, and discharge and billing information.Part 3 consists of the Client Follow-Up Interviews, and was conducted during 1995 and 1996. This part covered the clients' entire life span, with special attention to their behavior and circumstances during the five years before entry to the index (SROS) treatment in 1989-1990 and after leaving that treatment until the time of the interview. Additional questions were asked on patterns of alcohol and drug consumption, criminal activity, employment, health, social support, and other behavior relevant to treatment goals. Drugs included cocaine, crack, heroin, nontreatment methadone, other opiates/synthetics, barbiturates, benzodiazapine, other sedatives/hypnotics, methamphetamines, other amphetamines, marijuana/hash/THC, PCP/LSD, other hallucinogens, inhalants, over-the-counter medications, and alcohol.