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Objective: To examine the temporal relationship of Medicaid funding on the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Methods: We examined data from 61 publicly funded SUD treatment programs in 2011 and 2013 using crossed-lagged regressions. We tested the impact of Medicaid payment acceptance on 2 measures of EBP implementation—contingency management treatment (CMT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Results: Medicaid payment acceptance at wave 1 was not associated with implementation of CMT at wave 2 (standardized estimate = 0.170, SE = 0.208, P > .05). However, Medicaid payment acceptance at wave 1 was associated with implementation of MAT at wave 2 (standardized estimate = 0.880, SE = 0.047, P

Emerging adulthood is the period of greatest risk for problematic substance use. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between a broad measure of child maltreatment and several key outcomes for a large clinical sample of emerging adults ( n = 858) and adolescents ( n = 2,697). The secondary aim was to examine the extent to which the relationship between child maltreatment and treatment outcomes differed between emerging adults and adolescents. Multilevel latent growth curve analyses revealed emerging adults and adolescents who experienced child maltreatment reported significantly greater reductions over time on several treatment outcomes (e.g., substance use, substance-related problems, and emotional problems). Overall, analyses did not support differential relationships between child maltreatment and changes over time in these substance use disorder treatment outcomes for emerging adults and adolescents. The one exception was that although emerging adults with child maltreatment did reduce their HIV risk over time, their improvements were not as great as were the improvements in HIV risk reported by adolescents who had experienced child maltreatment.

This article examines gender differences in treatment engagement, psychosocial variables, and criminal thinking among a sample of male and female substance abusers ( N = 2,774) enrolled in 20 prison-based treatment programs in five different states as part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse—funded Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies cooperative agreement. Results indicate that inmates in female treatment programs report more psychosocial dysfunction, less criminal thinking, and higher engagement than in male facilities, and there is a more negative relationship between psychosocial variables and treatment engagement (compared to male programs). Only one subscale of criminal thinking had a significant gender interaction, with males having a significantly stronger relationship between cold-heartedness and low treatment engagement. Implications for treatment interventions with a gender-specific focus are discussed.

Monitoring drug-abuse-treatment delivery and progress requires the use of validated instruments to measure client motivation, psychosocial and cognitive functioning, and other treatment-process dynamics. As part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies project for examining client-performance indicators for treatment of correctional populations, this study examined psychometric properties of the Criminal Justice Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CJ CEST). The sample included 3,266 offenders from 26 corrections-based treatment programs located in six states. Overall, the client assessment demonstrated good reliabilities evaluated at the individual and program levels and in test—retest administrations. In addition, evidence for construct validity was favorable. It is concluded that the CJ CEST is a brief yet comprehensive instrument that effectively and efficiently measures client needs and functioning at intake and also is appropriate for use during treatment to monitor progress over time in corrections-based drug-treatment programs.

The Inmate Prerelease Assessment (IPASS) was developed specifically as a measure of postrelease risk for prison-based treatment graduates. By taking into account historical drug use and criminal activity of inmates as well as their performance during prison-based treatment, the IPASS provides a “priority” score indicating the relative need for more (versus less) intensive treatment services on release. The present study used data from offenders paroling from prisons in a southwest ( N = 127) and midwest ( N = 75) state to examine the psychometric properties of the IPASS subscales. With regard to construct validity, psychometric properties ranged from good to excellent. The IPASS scales also showed strong internal consistency, with coefficient alphas greater than .80 for the Texas Christian University Drug Screen, Client Evaluation of Treatment, and Counselor Evaluation of Client scales. Further research will explore alternatives on how the Client and Counselor scales are optimally incorporated into the IPASS priority score and will examine the score in relation to aftercare participation and postrelease outcomes.

Risk assessments generally rely on actuarial measures of criminal history. However, these static measures do not address changes in risk as a result of intervention. To this end, this study examines the basic psychometric properties of the TCU Criminal Thinking Scales (TCU CTS), a brief (self-rating) instrument developed to assess cognitive functioning expected to be related to criminal conduct. Findings demonstrate that these scales have good psychometric properties and can serve as a short but reliable self-reported criminal thinking assessment. Their applications as part of an assessment system to determine offender progress and effectiveness are discussed.