Survival analysis in drug program evaluation. Part I. Overall program effectiveness.

Survivorship analysis is a statistical technique used here in a summative evaluation that compares outcome data from multiple-site methadone maintenance programs in three California counties. Multiple outcome measures were obtained from retrospective interviews with 297 heroin addicts 6-8 years after admission to treatment. These measures were rates of retention, incarceration, addiction, crime, dealing, and loss of employment. Survival curves for all six measures are consistent in showing that Los Angeles County had the best outcomes, followed by San Bernardino County and then Orange County.