Are the treatment goals of culturally competent outpatient substance abuse treatment units congruent with their client profile? Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This study examines whether organizational treatment goals varied among outpatient substance abuse treatment (OSAT) units identified as providing a level of culturally competent care for African Americans. Cross-sectional data from the 1995 National Drug Abuse Treatment System Survey (NDATSS) was used. Of the nationally representative, stratified sample of 699 units, 618 (88%) participated. Spearman correlation, analysis of variance, Behrens-Fisher t-tests, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression were used. Culturally competent units, even after controlling for organizational and client characteristics, were more apt than non-culturally competent units to indicate that achieving steady employment, spiritual strength, and physical health were important treatment goals. A congruency exists among culturally competent OSAT units between the client profile, which is more distressful than that for non-culturally competent units, and the orientation of treatment goals, which are more holistic; that is, treating the total individual, rather than the addiction only.

published proceedings

  • J Subst Abuse Treat

author list (cited authors)

  • Howard, D. L.

citation count

  • 14

complete list of authors

  • Howard, Daniel L

publication date

  • January 2003