Needs Assessment
Wisconsin Substance Abuse Treatment
Needs Assessment Project
Alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) has a significant economic and
social impact on the people of Wisconsin. It has been estimated that the
economic impact is well over $2.6 billion each year in lowered
productivity, health care and criminal justice systems costs, injury and
premature death.
The Department of Health Services' response to the need
for reliable information about this impact will take the form of a
partnership among the following agencies:
- Division of Supportive Living
- Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
- Division of Public Health
- Bureau of Health Information
- University of Wisconsin Survey Center
- University of Wisconsin Medical School, Center for Health Policy
and Program Evaluation
- Other participating agencies
Together, these agencies have initiated a six-year $1.8 million
assessment of the alcohol and other drug abuse treatment needs of
Wisconsin residents. In Wisconsin, the following five studies are
completed: a statewide substance abuse treatment needs telephone survey;
an alcohol and other drug abuse treatment capacity analysis; a composite
alcohol and drug abuse indicators study; interviews with pregnant
females to identify substance abuse treatment needs; and interviews with
arrestees to identify abuse treatment needs; and an integrative analysis
of all five studies. Each of these studies will contribute information
for state and county planning for the distribution of alcohol and other
drug abuse funds. These studies meet federal requirements for
information to support Wisconsin's receipt of some $21 million in
federal substance abuse Block Grant funds.
Round 2 studies commenced in 1999 and are as follows:
- "Off year" estimates of substance abuse prevalence and
treatment need will be produced using the results from the Statewide
Substance Abuse and Treatment Needs Telephone Survey conducted
during round 1. This annual study will be conducted under
subcontract and will serve to validate the survey results as well as
provide annual estimates of prevalence and treatment need.
- The treatment resource, utilization, and capacity analysis study
completed during round 1 will be continued on an annual basis. This
will include an updated inventory of alcohol/drug abuse programs,
services provided, costs, and capacity vs. need (gap) analyses by
geographic areas and other client characteristics.
- The composite alcohol and drug indicators study will be
implemented annually using the factor analytic model developed in
round 1.
- A household survey to identify substance abuse prevalence and
treatment needs of Native Americans living on a sample of
Wisconsin's reservations will be conducted.
- A short and long-term treatment outcome and client satisfaction
study for use in needs assessment and evaluation will be implemented
among a representative sample of substance abuse programs and
clients whose treatment was subsidized with public funds.
These studies will serve to inform both state and county policy
makers in their pursuit of this mission. Results will be available in
March 2002. The contact person and project manager for the studies
is Mike Quirke,
Bureau of Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, (608) 266-7584.
Information regarding the federal Household Survey is available as
well. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
sponsors the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reporting the
results of interviews with over 25,000 persons age 12 and older across
the country.
Last Revised: July 18, 2008 |
