Outcome Evaluations in Substance Abuse: A Comparison of Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Other Mental Health Interventions

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Abstract
Outcome evaluation studies in the areas of human alcohol and drug abuse have suffered from design problems. The lack of control groups, prospective designs, adequate outcome measures and sufficient follow-up has presented the major difficulties. This study reviewed all such studies reported in 50 major journals between 1969-1979, and compared them to outcome evaluations on other mental health topics reported in the same journals. Significant problems remained in each area. In general, drug abuse studies employed the least adequate methodologies. Alcohol evaluations were approximately as rigorous as other mental health evaluations. A major finding was the lack of rigor found in all types of outcome evaluations. Attention must be paid to these issues if outcome evaluations are to remain credible and able to secure continued support.