Evaluation of narcotics treatment programs.

Abstract

No conclusion can be reached as to the relative efficiencies of various treatments in stopping drug abuse or in achieving social rehabilitation. The types of patients treated are in most cases poorly defined, and few programs have reported any data describing the fate of patients after return to the community. The prospects for improvement in data collection seem remote unless basic standards are adopted. The directors of all major treatment programs should join in sponsoring an impartial committee to set standards for systematic reporting of treatment data, and for evaluation of results. The standards should insure collection of data to measure the persistence of drug abuse (as shown by systematic analyses of urine for narcotics, barbituarates, and amphetamines), the patient''s progress in social rehabilitation, his physical health, and the average per capita cost (as measured in dollars and in the amount of professional services required). Standard forms were developed for tabulation of data in this program, and have simplified the technic of urine testing.