Outcomes from the targeted capacity expansion (TCE) substance abuse treatment program

Abstract

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), in carrying out its mission to improve access to and the quality of substance abuse treatment services, initiated the Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE) program—a national initiative, to encourage community-based organizations to expand their existing treatment capacity and implement strategies to evaluate treatment outcomes. Additionally, CSAT sought to provide substance abuse treatment services in communities that had substantial unmet treatment needs. Grantees funded under the TCE program were required to participate in local, regional and national training workshops that covered a variety of topics ranging from program evaluation, interviewing skills, strategies for increasing client follow-up, and data collection. This paper reports the preliminary findings from two components of the TCE program. The results indicate that (1) CSAT was successful in closing gaps in substance abuse treatment services nationally; (2) the TCE initiative provided enhanced treatment substance abuse treatment services to typically underserved populations; (3) substance abuse behaviors and criminal activity resulting from substance abuse were significantly reduced; and (4) critical quality of life factors were improved.