A national follow-up study to evaluate the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment: a report on cohort 1 of the DARP five years later.

Preliminary findings for the first cohort of a national follow-up study of drug users admitted to treatment in the Drug Abuse Reporting Program (DARP) during 1969-1971 are reported. From a sample of 1,853 selected for follow-up, 87% were located and interviews were completed for 77%. Gross tabulations are shown comparing several outcome measures based on pre-DARP treatment, the posttreatment period, and for the 2 months before interview. Sixty-one percent of all patients returned to treatment at some time after DARP termination. Decreases in drug use, expecially of opioids, were substantial and were generally accompanied by improvements in other outcome measures as well. Plans for more detailed and informative analysis of these and related DARP data are addressed.