State Characteristics and Admissions to Drug Treatment Programs

Abstract

This study examines the association of sociodemographic characteristics of states with primary drug of abuse at admission and reasons for discharge. Data on drug admissions and reasons for discharge were derived from the national monitoring system of admission to federally supported drug treatment programs (CODAP) and sociodemographic characteristics of states are derived from the 1976 Statistical Abstract of the U.S. Results indicated wide variations among states in terms of primary drugs at admission and reasons for discharge. State characteristics were differentially related with admissions as well as reasons for discharge. Generally larger states with a high percentage of urban population had higher proportionate admissions for heroin while smaller states with more rural populations had proportionately more admissions for drugs other than heroin. It was also indicated that the higher the percentages of admission for heroin, the lower the proportion of completed treatment. Policy and research implications are discussed.