A Pragmatic Guide to Effectively Measuring Addiction Treatment Success

Measurement is unquestionably the most significant issue facing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment providers. Fundamental to any treatment science is an ability to effectively monitor and measure treatment progress. For example, individuals can monitor glucose levels in support of avoiding diabetic ketoacidosis. Unfortunately, there is only one standard for measurement in the psychological sciences: diagnosis. Issues that arise from the associated lack of measurement practices include: fewer quality standards, decreased ability to advocate for services, and an inability to broadly examine treatment effectiveness. Luckily, there have been significant improvements in both data science and technology accelerants that have increased our collective ability to measure treatment success. This workshop will provide the historical research findings that support our current SUD treatment practices, provide each participant with the tools necessary to measure individual provider level effectiveness, and outline the future application of these tools through NAATP’s FoRSE Outcomes Program.