NAATP releases initial data from outcomes project

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) this week released the first results from its Outcomes Pilot Program (OPP), with the data depicting a patient population with significant mental health comorbidity and past experiences in treatment.

The eight NAATP member treatment programs participating in the pilot have fully enrolled their patient populations in the study, and are tracking measures that include sobriety, physical health, service delivery, continuing care and quality of life, among others. As stated in the association's announcement of initial results, “NAATP believes the OPP will validate addiction treatment on a broader scale by norming a replicable instrument and providing reliable collection methodology.”

The initial numbers show that among the study's 756 patient participants, 86% have been discharged from treatment, 58% have completed a one-month follow-up survey, and 35% have completed a three-month follow-up survey. The mean age of patients is 37, the group is 59% male, and 91% of patients are white.

Other initial findings include:

• 45% of the patients were taking a medication for a mental health condition at program intake.

• The most common substances used in the past month and past year were alcohol and marijuana, while the most common substances used in the past week were alcohol and benzodiazepines.

• The prevalence of past-week use of a prescription opioid was 13%.

• 63% of patients had received substance use disorder treatment at some point prior to admission.

The association expects to release its next report in time for its annual conference in Austin, Texas in May, and says that service delivery information and enhanced data on substance use will be released in its coming reports.