A Comparison of Three Community Drug Abuse Programs Including Clientele, Cost, and Effectiveness

Abstract

Three drug programs in one community are described by the demographic characteristics of persons enrolled. Important differences are found, for example relatively young and unemployed residents in the therapeutic community, and older, more often jailed members of the methadone program. These differences are attributable both to policy of the program and preference of the addicts themselves. Both methadone program and therapeutic community were successful in releasing persons who remained abstinent from drugs for a time, and when program costs were taken into account, a substantial monetary benefit to the community remained.