Does clinical case management improve outpatient addiction treatment

This project evaluated whether clinical case managers (CCMs) could increase access and utilization of social services in the community; and thereby im prove outcomes of addiction treatment. No case management (NoCM)-patients r eceived standard, group-based, abstinence-oriented, outpatient drug abuse c ounseling, approximately twice weekly. Clinical case management (CCM)-patie nts were treated in the same programs but also were assigned a CCM who prov ided access to pre-contracted, support services such as drug free housing, medical care, legal referral, and parenting classes from community agencies . CCM patients received more alcohol, medical, employment, and legal servic es than NoCM patients during treatment. At 6 month follow-up CCM patients s howed significantly more improvement in alcohol use, medical status, employ ment, family relations, and legal status than NoCM patients. We conclude th at CCM was an effect:ive method of improving outcomes for substance abuse p atients in community treatment programs. Essential elements for successful implementation included extensive training to foster collaboration; and pre -contracting of services to assure availability. (C) 1999 Published by Else vier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.