The First Report Of National Addiction Outcomes Research: Why, Why Now, Why Us?

   THE FIRST REPORT OF NATIONAL ADDICTION OUTCOMES RESEARCH: WHY, WHY NOW, WHY US? 

The Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE) has released its inaugural report examining outcomes measurement in addiction healthcare – a previously overlooked and much needed examination of varied approaches to addiction treatment in our country. Dilworth Center’s CEO Charles Odell helped facilitate the development of this project as board member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). Dilworth Center in Charlotte, NC was the first outpatient addiction treatment facility in the nation to participate in this new, innovative FoRSE outcomes research program. This report provides a glimpse at the significant value of this effort and the future wealth of information and insight to come.

“It is the first report of its kind in the industry.” says FoRSE Executive Director, Dr. Annie Peters. “As we face continually rising rates of substance use and mental health issues, we are optimistic about the potential positive impact on the treatment community, patients, their families, and the public. The Summary describes the Why, What, and How of this national research collaborative that was developed and is sustained by treatment providers themselves, as well as other supportive organizations and individuals who believe that recovery stories can and must be told in data.

“The FoRSE Outcomes Program is active, productive, and growing, now with 75 treatment facilities across 25 US States participating. We need to tell the stories of transformation and recovery that we see every day in treatment, but we need to tell these stories with objectivity and quantitative results” according to Dr. Peters. “The objectives of the program are clear, including addressing several commonly-expressed concerns about the current state of addiction healthcare, such as the need for standardized measurement, data accessibility, and use of data to advocate for reimbursement, parity, and equitable access to services.

“The framework of the program offers great promise to the future of the field by helping providers to demonstrate the value of their services and to raise the bar of quality, both within their own organizations and in the treatment community at large. The program also offers opportunities for researchers to examine large data sets to answer important questions about the recovery process.”

Dr. Peters adds, “This program was so desperately needed. With the recent release of the 2023 FoRSE Annual Summary, the NAATP Foundation’s Addiction Treatment Outcome Program is a tangible reality, and the importance of our work has become even more evident. The most common feedback we have received is, “Thank you. This work is so important.”

Dilworth Center has already realized many insights and valuable analysis from its internal data that is contributed to the national database. The upcoming individualized facility report will provide even greater understanding as Dilworth Center is benchmarked against other addiction treatment providers across the country. Dilworth Center’s outcomes measurement program is made possible thanks to a generous grant by the ABC Board of Mecklenburg County.

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Peter Hirsch
Dilworth Center