Elizabeth A Wells

• PhD
• Professor at University of Washington

Introduction: High risk sex-such as sex with multiple partners, condomless sex, or transactional or commercial sex-is a risk factor in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). SUD treatment can reduce sexual risk behavior, but interventions to reduce such behavior in this context have not been consistently effective. This study sought to d...

Introduction The “Women and Trauma” Study (WTS) conducted in the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN-0015) resulted in research publications, presentations, and a train-the-trainer workshop to support dissemination efforts for skills-based trauma treatment in substance use community treatment. Twelve years after its completio...

Background: People with substance use disorder (SUD) experience increased risk for HIV, Hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted illnesses via risky sex. This high-risk population would benefit from sexual risk reduction interventions integrated into SUD treatment. However, many SUD counselors report lack of skill or confidence in addressing sexual r...

Background: Counselor workforce turnover is a critical area of concern for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers and researchers. To facilitate the adoption and implementation of innovative treatments, attention must be paid to how SUD treatment workforce issues affect the implementation of clinical effectiveness research. Multiple vari...

Aims: Analyses examined whether age moderated the STAGE-12 effects on substance use and TSMHO meeting attendance and participation. Design: We utilized data from a multisite randomized controlled trial, with assessments at baseline, mid-treatment (week 4), end-of-treatment (week 8), and 3- and 6- months post-randomization. Participants: Partic...

Parallel bodies of research have described the diverse and complex ways that men understand and construct their masculine identities (often termed "masculinities") and, separately, how adherence to traditional notions of masculinity places men at risk for negative sexual and health outcomes. The goal of this analysis was to bring together these two...

Few studies have examined the effectiveness of 12-step peer recovery support programs with drug use disorders, especially stimulant use, and it is difficult to know how outcomes related to 12-step attendance and participation generalize to individuals with non-alcohol substance use disorders (SUDs). A clinical trial of 12-step facilitation (N = 47...

This study examined relationships between interpersonal violence victimization and smoking from childhood to adulthood. Data were from a community-based longitudinal study (N = 808) spanning ages 10 to 33. Cross-lag path analysis was used to model concurrent, directional, and reciprocal effects. Results indicate that childhood physical abuse predic...

Data from an online community sample of young men were analyzed to test predictors of sexual assault perpetration. We used structural equation modeling to test the relative contributions of specific sub-types of childhood adversity to subsequent sexual aggression. Mediators included hostile masculinity, impersonal sexual behavior and attitudes, and...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is linked to sexual risk exposure among women. However, less is known about the intersection of IPV perpetration and sexual risk behavior among men. This study used data from a diverse, community sample of 334 heterosexually active young men, aged 18 to 25, across the United States to examine whether an...

Research on heterosexual men's sexual expectations has focused on self-described personal traits and culturally dominant models of masculinity. In a pair of studies, we used a sexual scripts perspective to explore the range and diversity of young men's thoughts about sex and relationships with women and to develop measures for assessing these scrip...

This study examined whether level of exposure to Stimulant Abuser Groups to Engage in 12-Step (STAGE-12), a 12-Step facilitative therapy, is related to treatment outcome. Data were from a large National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) study comparing STAGE-12 combined with Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) to TAU alone. These analyses inc...

Heterosexual men's sexual safety behavior is important to controlling the U.S. epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While sexual safety is often treated as a single behavior, such as condom use, it can also be conceptualized as resulting from multiple factors. Doing so can help us achieve...

Factors associated with the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth were qualitatively examined to better understand how these factors are experienced from the youths' perspectives. Largely recruited from LGBTQ youth groups, 68 youth participated in focus groups (n = 63) or individual interviews (n =...

This study examined associations of therapeutic alliance and treatment delivery fidelity with treatment retention in Stimulant Abusers to Engage in Twelve-Step (STAGE-12), a community-based trial of 12-Step Facilitation (TSF) conducted within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN). The STAGE-12 trial randomized 234 stimulan...

Background Given persistently high rates of sexual violence in the U.S, and the consistent finding that most perpetrators of sexual assault are male (Black et al., 2011), researchers have continued to refine the knowledge base regarding risk factors for sexual aggression among men. The confluence model of sexual aggression (Malamuth et al., 1991)...

Young adults have high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexual minority youths' risk for STIs, including HIV, is as high as or higher than sexual majority peers'. Sexual safety, while often treated as a single behavior such as condom use, can be best conceptualized as the result of multiple factors. We used latent class analysis to...

This systematic review analyzes the role of gender in the association between childhood maltreatment and substance use outcomes, among longitudinal papers published between 1995 and 2011. Ten papers examined gender as a moderating variable. Results on gender differences were mixed. When studies that found no gender effects were compared with studie...

Social workers encounter individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) in a variety of settings. With changes in health care policy and a movement toward integration of health and behavioral health services, social workers will play an increased role vis-á-vis SUD. As direct service providers, administrators, care managers, and policy makers, the...

For substance abuse treatment-seekers engaging in high risk sexual behavior, their inconsistent condom use may be related to their condom use attitudes and skills. This study compared treatment-seeking male and female substance abusers in their reported barriers to condom use and condom use skills. Men and women (N = 1,105) enrolled in two multi-si...

Background and Purpose HIV and STIs are of concern to social workers because they disproportionately affect young people and people of color. Much HIV/STI prevention research has used social cognitive models, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), to understand sexual risk taking and these models typically significantly predict intention to...

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation and acceptability of Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT), a novel adjunctive approach to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The primary aims of the study were to examine implementation of MABT as an adjunct to addiction treatment, and MABT acceptability to study particip...

Whereas gendered sexual scripts are hegemonic at the cultural level, research suggests they may be less so at dyadic and individual levels. Understanding "disjunctures" between sexual scripts at different levels holds promise for illuminating mechanisms through which sexual scripts can change. Through interviews with 44 heterosexually active men an...

As part of an internet-based study to investigate experiences of sexual minority youth in the U.S., 544 youth, ages 14–19, were surveyed about their need for services, where they preferred to receive these services, and their preferred method of service delivery. The survey was anonymous and youth were recruited from LGBTQ-specific listservs and ve...

Background and Purpose: The Women & Trauma Study was proposed in response to the overwhelming need expressed by providers for an appropriate intervention for trauma-related problems commonly experienced by clients seeking addiction treatment. Women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are now seen as a substantial subgroup of...

Background and Purpose: There are long-standing gaps between research findings and practice in service provision to those dependent on drugs or alcohol. State and local policies increasingly advocate or require the use of evidence-based practices in publicly funded treatment programs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Netw...

This study examined mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT) feasibility as a novel adjunct to women's substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. As an individual therapy, MABT combines manual and mind-body approaches to develop interoception and self-care tools for emotion regulation. A 2-group randomized controlled trial repeated-measures d...

The first 10 years of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network (CTN) yielded a wealth of data on the effectiveness of a number of behavioral, pharmacological, and combined approaches in community-based settings. We summarize some of the methodological contributions and lessons learned from the behavioral trials conducted durin...

Clinical trials test the safety and efficacy of behavioral and pharmacological interventions in drug-dependent individuals. However, there is no consensus about the most appropriate outcome(s) to consider in determining treatment efficacy or on the most appropriate methods for assessing selected outcome(s). We summarize the discussion and recommend...

The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) began in 2000 with the goal of "improv[ing] the quality of drug abuse treatment throughout the country using science as the vehicle." Since then, 24 discrete clinical trials were launched, 20 are completed, and 15 have published main outcome papers. Of the latter, 4 tested pharmacologi...

Background and Purpose: There is some evidence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth are at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases, school-related problems, physical violence, verbal threats, forced sex, depression, suicide, and other health-related problems compared to youth identifying as heterosexual. However,...

The authors compared the effectiveness of the Seeking Safety group, cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to an active comparison health education group (Women's Health Education [WHE]) within the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network. The authors randomized 353 wome...

The present study sought to compare, in a pre-post (AB) design, the efficacy of 2 contingency management programs utilizing take-home doses as reinforcers of abstinence for methadone maintenance patients. The baseline schedule (A) imposed more restrictions on availability of take-home doses than did the experimental schedule (B) which provided take...

Research has documented the importance of individuals' social networks in facilitating and inhibiting drug use. Sociological theories of deviance and drug use provide a useful framework for understanding the influence of social networks; however, these theories differ in how they view the nature and relevance of the social relationships of drug use...

Women in drug treatment struggle with co-occurring problems, including trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can heighten HIV risk. This study examines the impact of two group therapy interventions on reduction of unprotected sexual occasions (USO) among women with substance use disorders (SUD) and PTSD. Participants were 346 wome...

Increased awareness of the importance of tailoring interventions to participants' cultures has focused attention on the limited generalizability of a single test of an intervention to determine efficacy. Adaptation is often necessary to replicate interventions across cultures. This produces a tension between fidelity to the original intervention an...

Few empirical studies are available to guide best practices for transferring evidenced-based treatments to community substance abuse providers. To maximize the learning and maintenance of new clinical skills, this study tested a context-tailored training (CTT) model, which used standardized patient actors in role-plays tailored to agency clinical c...

To assess retention in methadone maintenance treatment for prescription-type opioid primary (PTOP) users compared to heroin users. A retrospective cohort study was carried out to examine the association between opiate types used on 12-month retention. The study population consisted of adults admitted to one of 11 not-for-profit methadone maintenanc...

Homeless adolescents who used alcohol or illicit substances but were not seeking treatment (n = 54) were recorded during brief motivational interventions. Adolescent language during sessions was coded on the basis of motivational interviewing concepts (global ratings of engagement and affect, counts of commitment to change, statements about reasons...

The video assessment of simulated encounters-revised (VASE-R) is a video-based method, administered in individual or group settings, for assessing motivational interviewing (MI) skills. The 18-item instrument includes three video-based vignettes, in which actors portray substance abusers, with each vignette followed by questions that prompt examine...

Use of available services is low among homeless youths, and how youth make decisions to access services or seek housing is unclear. This study explored perspectives of current and former street youth about these processes. Recruited from the streets and a drop-in center, 27 youth ages 16-24, participated in individual qualitative interviews. Findin...

A substantial number of women who enter substance abuse treatment have a history of trauma and meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fear regarding the extent to which PTSD treatment can evoke negative consequences remains a research question. This study explored adverse events related to the implementation of an integrated treatm...

A brief motivational intervention with 117 homeless adolescents was evaluated using a randomized design and 3-month follow-up. The intervention was designed to raise youths' concerns about their substance use, support harm reduction, and encourage greater service utilization at a collaborating agency. The study was designed to strengthen initial pr...

Although many interventions for youth rely, explicitly or implicitly, on group effects, sparse theoretical or empirical attention has been paid to the rationale for choosing a small-group design. The present study assesses the role of friendship closeness among youth in prevention intervention groups in shaping their HIV risk-related attitudes, int...

This study tested the theory of planned behavior's (TPB) expectation that attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy would mediate other variables' effects on intention for having sex and probability of having sex. Longitudinal data were collected from 790 high-school-aged adolescents. In an intrapersonal variable model, sensation seeking, alcohol...

Training efforts for evidenced based treatments require evaluation, yet the value of practitioner self-reports of skills acquisition has been questioned. Thus, a key issue concerns how accurately practitioners assess their own clinical skills. In the current study, 23 community practitioners participated in training of Motivational Interviewing (MI...

Although there are now several adolescent HIV and STD preventive interventions of demonstrated efficacy in the literature, little is understood about the portability of these interventions. This study replicated Stanton's Focus on Kids intervention, developed for inner city African American adolescents, in a different population, transferring it to...

Objective: Six items were administered to a multiethnic sample of 435 middle school—age participants in a group-delivered safer sex intervention to determine their reliability and validity. Method: Exploratory analyses were followed by confirmatory factor analyses, and then correlations of scale scores with theoretically related variables were comp...

To determine from a review of the available literature the extent to which involvement in 12-Step mutual support groups could play a role in the recovery process for individuals abusing or dependent on methamphetamine. Review of the literature on outcomes associated with 12-Step meeting attendance and involvement in 12-Step activities among substan...

The short-term results of a randomized trial testing a brief feedback and motivational intervention for substance use among homeless adolescents are presented. Homeless adolescents ages 14-19 (N = 285) recruited from drop-in centers at agencies and from street intercept were randomly assigned to either a brief motivational enhancement (ME) group or...

This research examines the applicability of Fishbein and Ajzen's (1975) theory of reasoned action (TRA) to intentions to use cigarettes and alcohol among 5th- and 6th-grade students. It also addresses the question of unidimensionality of outcome beliefs and referent norms. Results suggest that the TRA model describes children's decision making well...

The authors developed and evaluated a group-administered method for measuring motivational interviewing (MI) skills. The video assessment of simulated encounters (VASE) consists of three videotaped vignettes of actors playing substance abusers. Each vignette is followed by eight questions asking examinees to generate written responses consistent wi...

Sexual health research often relies on single risk indicators. However multi-variable composites may better capture the underlying construct of risk-taking. Latent Profile Analysis identified subgroups based on condom use consistency, partner numbers, and sex frequency among 605 adolescents. Three profiles were identified for each of grades 8 to 10...

To better understand the factors teens consider when making decisions regarding sex and condom use. Twenty-one same-sex focus groups were conducted with a total of 92 male and female teens from a range of high school programs; schools were selected based on the range of programs and diversity of students enrolled. Focus group moderators facilitated...

The rationale and design for a brief feedback and motivational intervention for substance use among homeless adolescents is described. Homeless adolescents use substances at extremely high rates compared to other youth, and experience considerable negative consequences as a result. Yet homeless adolescents are not reached by, or are not responsive...

We examined the utility of the theory of reasoned action for predicting sexual intercourse among teenagers and determined whether it holds for both genders and for those with and without prior sexual experience. The data include 749 students who were in 9th–11th grades when the predictors were measured and in 10th–12th grades when sexual intercours...

We evaluated a 2-day training workshop on motivational interviewing (MI) for addiction and mental health clinicians (n = 22). Clinicians completed the helpful responses questionnaire (HRQ) and taped interactions with a standardized patient (SP). Independent, blinded coders rated the tapes using the motivational interviewing skills code (MISC). Post...

This research examined the applicability of the theory of reasoned action to school-age children. Using structural equation modeling, we longitudinally modeled children's attitudes, norms, intentions, and behavior with regard to drinking alcohol. Respondents were 1,061 children attending public schools in the northwestern United States. Attitude, n...

Children's beliefs about smoking were examined in a multi-ethnic urban sample of 4th through 7th grade children. Results showed that, relative to those in earlier grades, children in higher grades held more positive beliefs about the positive outcomes of smoking and the long-term negative consequences of smoking, but there was no association betwee...

Auricular acupuncture is widely used to treat cocaine addiction in the United States and Europe. However, evidence from controlled studies regarding this treatment's effectiveness has been inconsistent. To investigate the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for cocaine addiction. Randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial...

Researchers examined individual characteristics and peer influences related to adolescents' sexual behavior, taking gender and sexual experience into account. As part of a larger, longitudinal study investigating youth health awareness, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders reported their intentions to engage in sexual activity and use condoms in the next yea...

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) was administered to 144 men and 86 women within 1 month of admission to methadone maintenance treatment and was readministered 18 months following admission. Based on prior research, we hypothesized there would be significant decreases on scales measuring affective disturbance, anxiety, and social iso...

Bonding in parent, peer, and school domains were compared in a general sample of children and a sample of children of methadone-treated parents. Bivariate comparisons revealed that children of methadone-treated parents had lower SES, and were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes but not more likely to drink alcohol. Several measures of att...

This paper reports the results of a study in which age (grade level), racial/ethnic, and gender differences in beliefs and perceived norms about drinking were examined in a multi-ethnic urban sample of 4th through 7th grade children. Results showed that older children held beliefs and perceived norms that were more favorable toward drinking than yo...

This paper reports the treatment progress of methadone maintenance clients who were discharged or withdrew from treatment and then were readmitted for a second episode of treatment. Thirty-nine clients in a contingency contract condition remained in treatment long enough (6 months) during both the initial and a second treatment episode, to be expos...

Using AIDS Initial Assessment questionnaire (AIA) data from 353 injection drug users (IDUs) newly admitted to methadone maintenance (MM), three dimensions of injection risk behavior ("sharing with sexual partner," "sharing with others," and "new needle use") were identified. Among IDUs who continued to inject drugs at 1 year, men retained in treatm...

Predictors of methadone maintenance treatment outcome have not been extensively studied as they relate to variations in program philosophy, nor have such predictors received much examination among recently treated, older cohorts of opioid addicts for whom drug use patterns have changed. Predictors of outcome were examined at 18 months post-treatmen...

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory was administered to 196 men and 113 women newly admitted to methadone maintenance. The distribution of participants among Axis I subtypes was no elevation (18.8%), drug-alcohol abuse only (25.2%), affective disturbance (31.7%), and psychotic symptoms(l7.2%); among Axis II subtypes it was no elevation (10.4%)...

Described knowledge about HIV transmission among 1,048 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from a multiethnic urban school district. Participants answered questions about behaviors leading to HIV transmission and about mechanisms of transmission. Children at all grade levels demonstrated a high level of recognition of the three primary routes o...

The authors randomly assigned 60 subjects entering methadone maintenance treatment to receive “specific” or “nonspecific” (placebo) auricular acupuncture; patients were followed for 6 months. The two groups did not differ in acupuncture attendance, self-reported withdrawal symptoms, or drug use, by self-report or urinalysis. Their reports of heroin...

At a community-based methadone clinic in Seattle, WA, 360 opiate-addicted individuals were enrolled in a treatment demonstration project. The treatment slots were free to clients and, unlike other funded treatment slots, did not require proof of eligibility based on documentation of indigence. The clients were compared with 70 clients enrolled in a...

The Children's Health Awareness Project is presented as a case study of the use of focus groups for gathering sensitive information from children. General focus group techniques are described, as are the benefits and limitations of focus group methodology for social science applications. Recommendations are offeredfor other investigators planning t...

Modified versions of the Reasons for Quitting (RFQ) Scale designed for use with smokers were included in 2 randomized trials testing treatment programs for marijuana and cocaine users. Three of the 4 motivation dimensions from the Tobacco RFQ were confirmed for marijuana and cocaine. These results provide preliminary support for the application of...

This study sought to identify differences within injection drug using (IDU) couples in reporting of sexual and needle risk behavior. Subjects were thirty-nine heterosexual couples entering methadone maintenance. In 33.3% of couples, one member reported sharing needles while the other member reported no sharing. In 12.9% of couples, one member repor...

This study sought to assess the efficacy of treatment for cocaine abuse and to compare the relative effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention treatment with that of a Twelve-Step recovery support group in an outpatient group treatment setting. One hundred ten subjects seeking treatment were alternately assigned to relapse preventio...

Focus groups were used as a qualitative technique to elicit knowledge and attitudes of children in Grades 3 to 6 about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Twenty-seven small groups of children responded to open-ended questions about general AIDS knowledge; transmission, causation, consequences, and prevention of AIDS; emotional response to...

In a 3 x 2 factorial design, 360 new admissions to methadone maintenance were randomly assigned to one of three levels of counseling: (1) "medication only," (2) "standard" counseling, and (3) "enhanced" services; and one of two contingency contracting conditions: (1) no contingencies (NC), and (2) contingency contracting (CC). Contingency contracti...

Little normative data exist about the frequency and variety of sexual behavior of injection drug users. Sexual behaviors of a group of 313 injection drug users (225 men and 88 women) were assessed by a structured interview at the start of an acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention project. Celibacy was reported by 12.3% of men and 26.9% of w...

Several ways in which research can be an important tool in creating culturally appropriate prevention programs are suggested. To illustrate cultural variability, we present data from a study of 5th-grade African-American and European-American students. These data describe rates of early initiation, levels of exposure to identified risk factors, and...

Few studies have addressed treatment retention among cocaine-using samples. The current study develops and tests a model of treatment retention at the individual level, employing data from 110 cocaine users who initiated outpatient treatment. The model includes measures of extent of drug involvement, social isolation and support, motivation, and de...

The present study examines the relationship between (a) social, cognitive, and behavioral skills; (b) self-reported intentions to use drugs and alcohol following treatment; and (c) later drug and alcohol use for a sample of 130 adolescents. Social, problem solving, self-control, and drug and alcohol avoidance skills were significantly related to ma...

To determine whether injection drug users (IDU) maintained sexual behavior risk reduction over an 18-month period that had been noted previously over a 4-month period. A repeated measures design was utilized with IDU assessed initially at study enrollment and again 18 months later. Sexual behaviors of a group of 220 IDU (148 men and 72 women) were...

The literature on family predictors of substance use for the general population is reviewed and compared to findings for three specific ethnic groups: black, white and Asian Americans. Rates of substance use initiation are examined in a sample of 919 urban 5th-grade students. Ethnic differences on measures of family predictors are examined and sign...

This article examines racial differences in self-reported delinquency, school trouble, antisocial attitudes, and toughness and in teacher-rated aggressive and inattentive behaviors among fifth grade black, white, and Asian American subjects. Also examined are the relationships of these variables to substance initiation within each racial group. Con...

A test was conducted of a cognitive-behavioral skills training program with 141 incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental skills training or normal institutional treatment control group after blocking on county of origin, race, and sex to ensure group equivalence. A behavioral role-play inventory, the Ado...

A review of controlled evaluations of adolescent and other drug abuse treatment programs concludes that some treatment is better than no treatment, that few comparisons of treatment method have consistently demonstrated the superiority of one method over another, that posttreatment relapse rates are high, and that more controlled studies of adolesc...

This paper examines differences among three racial groups in exposure to three risk factors for drug use (availability of drugs, acceptability of drug use, and peer alcohol use), and the relationship of these factors to drug use initiation in a sample of preadolescent urban youths. Tobacco and alcohol initiation rates were highest among Whites, low...

Transition and aftercare services for drug involved delinquent youth are sorely needed. Rates of recidivism among delinquents and relapse among adolescent substance abusers are high. Further, since frequent drug use is more prevalent among juvenile offenders compared to nondelinquent populations, it is likely that relapse rates are even higher amon...

This study reports on the follow-up data for the treatment of drug abuse (Hawkins, Catalano, & Wells, 1986). In the original study, 130 clients in the reentry phase of residential drug treatment programs were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 60) or to a 10-week supplemental behavioral skills training course (n = 70). Eight-two percent of t...

Evidence indicates that serious and persistent delinquency and the frequent use of illicit drugs emerge from common etiological roots. This suggests that treatment efforts which target risk factors of adolescent drug use and crime may be effective in preventing subsequent antisocial behavior. This paper describes Project ADAPT, a treatment program...

Examined the relationship between social, cognitive, and behavioral skills and later substance use in 106 residential drug treatment clients (aged 15–55 yrs) beginning community reentry. Also, the predictive validity of the Problem Skills Inventory (PSI; J. D. Hawkins et al [see PA, Vol 74:8465]) was assessed. Ss completed the PSI and self-report m...

Drug use is measured in a number of different ways in drug treatment outcome studies. Different measures of outcome may yield different results, making comparison across studies difficult. The utility, sensitivity, and level of measurement of five categories of measures are reviewed. It is suggested that research focus on examining the properties o...

The use of different approaches to measurement in drug abuse treatment outcome studies has resulted in a lack of comparability across studies. This paper reviews different approaches to timing of baseline and follow-up periods and to dealing with time periods during which follow-up subjects are not "at risk" for drug use. Length and timing of basel...

Examined the effectiveness of a supplemental skills training and social-network-development aftercare program with 130 drug abusers (aged 15–55 yrs) from 4 residential therapeutic communities. The program included training in assertiveness, problem-solving, stress management, and giving and receiving praise; training techniques included group discu...