Proposition 36 Treatment System Impact (TSI) Project

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Brief Description of the Proposition 36 Treatment System Impact (TSI) Study
Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Yih-Ing Hser, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

In November 2000, California voters approved the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, also known as “Proposition 36.” Under this act, adult drug offenders can receive drug treatment in the community in lieu of incarceration. The impact of Proposition 36 on the criminal justice system and the substance abuse treatment system will have tremendous implications for future policy and practice at the national, state, and local levels. This project investigates the impact of Proposition 36 on the treatment service delivery system and treatment outcomes. This five-year study consists of the following:

The System Impact Study aims to understand the impact of Proposition 36 on the local (county) treatment service delivery system. The specific objectives are to:

Describe counties’ plans and strategies for implementing Proposition 36 in their drug treatment systems as well as the characteristics of drug offenders diverted to treatment;
Assess the treatment system impact of and response to Proposition 36, including changes in clinical practices and organizational adaptations;
Assess the influence of program and staff characteristics on Proposition 36 client treatment retention and completion.

The Treatment Outcome Study aims to assess treatment outcomes via follow-up interviews and cross-system data linkage. The specific objectives are to:

Assess services received by Proposition 36 clients;
Assess client self-reported treatment outcomes (e.g., drug use, criminal involvement); and
Assess client treatment outcomes in other health/social data systems (e.g., arrest records in the criminal justice system).

The study will be guided by a Steering Committee of individuals from key stakeholder groups and will involve personal interviews, focus groups, surveys, client assessment, and cross-system data linkage. Findings from this study will elucidate the effects of implementing this new drug policy on the treatment service delivery system, identify factors that influence the treatment outcomes among drug-abusing offenders, and provide information crucial to understanding how the implications of the act on the treatment system may affect future strategies for treating California’s large drug-abusing offender population.

For further information on the project, please contact Dr. Yih-Ing Hser or Dr. Cheryl Teruya at the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, 1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025, (310) 445-0874.