Research Strategies in Alcoholism Treatment

Experts in the substance abuse field highlight the practical issues inherent in planning and conducting alcohol treatment assessment research. The rising costs of health care and malpractice fees, along with third party payers’demands for more accountability have resulted in an urgent need for more and better treatment evaluation. Contributors address some of the pitfalls and examine valuable techniques and tools involved in conducting treatment assessment research. Topics include the initial assessment or diagnostic instrument, the role of the treatment environment on the outcome of treatment, the data collection process and its relation to the goals of the assessment, and the cost-effectiveness of treatment.