Substance Abuse Treatment

This project utilized the Program Development Evaluation (PDE) method to assess enhanced services provided to clients of the Baltimore City District Drug Treatment Court (DTC) project from October 2010 through March 2014. Clients received one or more of the following services: buprenorphine-enhanced intensive and standard outpatient addiction treatment, halfway house addiction treatment, transitional housing, health-insurance focused case management, and conflict resolution training and mediation services. Parties worked collaboratively to agree upon goals, objectives and implementation measures, and continued partnership to ensure adherence to the program model. This process and outcome report includes a recidivism analysis comparing DTC participants to those who received services and those who did not. Findings include that those who participated in conflict resolution training reduced the likelihood of arrest, conviction, and sentence of incarceration of 1 or more days post-admittance to DTC or post-service provision. Those who participated in conflict resolution training also lasted a longer period of time (or “survived”) without an arrest and without an arrest leading to a conviction than those who did not participate in conflict resolution training. Data challenges and limitations are also detailed.

Choice Research Associates was engaged in June 2012 by the Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems (bSAS) (now known as Behavioral Health System Baltimore) to explore existing data monitoring measures for substance abuse systems and to conceptualize monitoring measures that could be developed and computed by bSAS. While the project focus is on substance abuse systems, existing data systems among other behavioral health systems (e.g., Department of Mental Health, Mental Hygiene Administration) were considered and reviewed primarily to support any discussion of funding streams/resources for emerging changes in consolidation of substance abuse and mental health systems. The report is available here.

Choice Research Associates has been engaged by Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems (bSAS) to develop an evaluation plan for Baltimore Recovery Corp, a peer recovery project managed by bSAS in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Volunteer Services. Choice Research Associates will provide a summary of the existing research literature and research data collection tools from evaluations of behavioral health peer initiatives, as well as utilize the Program Development Evaluation (PDE) process to conduct workshops with stakeholders to establish long-term goals, short-term objectives, and implementation process standards and measures to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan for this initiative.

Choice Research Associates has been engaged by Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems (bSAS) to develop an evaluation plan for Baltimore Recovery Corp, a peer recovery project managed by bSAS in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Volunteer Services. Choice Research Associates will provide a summary of the existing research literature and research data collection tools from evaluations of behavioral health peer initiatives, as well as utilize the Program Development Evaluation (PDE) process to conduct workshops with stakeholders to establish long-term goals, short-term objectives, and implementation process standards and measures to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan for this initiative.

Dr. Flower worked with Rowan University Center for Addiction Studies as an External Evaluator and Co-Evaluator (with Nadine M. Connell, PhD.) of several social norms campaigns conducted in New Jersey. Specifically, a bullying social norms program was conducted in middle schools, and an alcohol, tobacco and other drug use social norms campaign in high schools. In the second year, the project Co-Evaluators revised, tested, and launched the social campaign student surveys and conducted analysis of the data. External Evaluator Social Norms report for 2005-2007 here; and Social Norms 2007-2008 report here. Dr. Flower also worked as the External Evaluator on the Campus Survey of Alcohol and Other Drug Norms conducted for the New Jersey Higher Education Consortium. See the 2007-2008 Evaluator Report here.