Recovery Services Provided by Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in the United States

Review
In: The CBHSQ Report. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2013.
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Excerpt

Background: In 2012, 2.5 million people in the United States received substance abuse treatment (SAT) at a specialty facility. Drug- and alcohol-abusing populations have higher rates of mental health issues than the general population, and many suffer from direct and indirect physical health conditions caused or exacerbated by their substance abuse. Because substance use often impacts multiple aspects of an individual's life, clients often enter treatment with housing issues, employment problems, and damaged family or social relationships. Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has identified Health, Home, Purpose, and Community as the four major dimensions that support recovery from substance abuse. Methods: The extent to which SAT facilities were providing recovery support services across each of the four dimensions of recovery was examined in the 2012 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) data. Results: In 2012, the Health recovery dimension was addressed by the majority of treatment facilities offering comprehensive substance abuse assessments or diagnoses (91%), mental health disorder screenings (68%), drug or alcohol urine screenings (84%), and substance abuse education (96%); 28% tested for HIV, 24% tested for hepatitis C, 22% tested for hepatitis B, and 21% tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The Home recovery dimension was addressed by SAT offering case management (80%), discharge planning (94%), and aftercare or continuing care services (84%); in addition, 49% assisted clients in locating housing. 74% of SAT offered social skills development and 62% used a sliding-fee scale in reflection of the Purpose recovery dimension, though only 37% offered employment counseling. The Community recovery dimension was addressed by the majority of treatment facilities offering individual, group, and family counseling (98, 93, and 82%, respectively) and community outreach (57%). Conclusion: Findings from this report indicate that the nation's substance abuse treatment facilities offered a range of services that reflect SAMHSA's four key recovery dimensions.

Publication types

  • Review