Program quality effects on patient outcomes during methadone maintenance: A study of 17 clinics

This study was designed to replicate Ball and Ross's benchmark research, wh ich was the first to identify a set of program quality factors for methadon e maintenance programs and relate them to patient outcomes. Ball and Ross's treatment domain variables were measured in a new and larger sample of met hadone clinics, and eight candidate program quality factors were derived. B oth studies found that program factors defined by more frequent counseling contacts, higher director involvement with treatment, and more director exp erience were associated with lower drug use by patients during treatment. S everal patient and counselor characteristics also were associated with drug -use outcomes.