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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Data Sources for SUD Program Evaluation

Substance use disorder (SUD) programs may use multiple data sources for program evaluation. This may include new (primary) data collection or existing (secondary) data sources.

Program partners and other interested agencies or organizations, such as SUD treatment providers, healthcare systems, and law enforcement, may help programs access data needed for evaluation. Examples of existing data sources that may be used for SUD program evaluation include:

  • Police reports with data on SUD-related encounters
  • Healthcare systems and electronic health record (EHR) data on SUD-related treatment, hospitalizations, health outcomes, and deaths
  • Mental healthcare provider data and EHR data on medication, counseling, and treatment outcomes
  • Social service agency data on referrals to and utilization of SUD prevention, treatment, counseling, and recovery support services
  • Emergency medical services data on rates of opioid overdose and naloxone administration in the community
  • Demographic data on the characteristics of program participants
  • Program data on the number of training sessions held and the number of staff trained in program activities

Validated Data Collection Tools

Program planners can consider using validated data collection tools for evaluation. Examples of validated tools for SUD program evaluation include:

  • The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) – A semi-structured, one-hour interview guide designed to collect information about aspects of a person's life that might have contributed to his or her substance misuse. The ASI covers seven domains: medical status, employment/support status, alcohol use, drug use, legal status, family/social status, and psychiatric status.
  • The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) – A clinician-rated tool to assess mental health and substance use outcomes throughout the course of mental health and substance use treatment. There are versions of the instrument for older adults, children and adolescents, and people with learning disabilities.
  • The Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP) – A multi-dimensional tool designed to evaluate treatment outcomes. The tool consists of 60 questions covering substance misuse, physical and mental health, personal and social functioning, and health risk behaviors.
  • The Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) – A structured interview assessing treatment outcomes in six domains: drug use, social functioning, criminality, HIV risk-taking behavior, health status, and psychological adjustment.
  • Screen4Success – A screening tool for individuals and professionals that asks questions about substance use, mental and physical health, and overall well-being.
  • The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) – A 26-item questionnaire assessing changes in quality of life over the course of an intervention. The questionnaire covers mental and physical health, social relationships, outcomes relating to the home environment, financial resources, and new skills.

Resources to Learn More

Screening and Assessment Tools Chart
Website
Links evidence-based SUD screening tools and assessment resources to substance type, age of patient (adolescent to adult), and the method of administering the tool.
Organization(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse

A Systematic Review of Validity of US Survey Measures for Assessing Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders
Document
Summarizes findings from a systematic review of validated measures to assess substance use and substance use disorders in the U.S.
Author(s): Tang, Y., Caswell, E., Mohamed, R., et al.
Citation: Systematic Reviews, 13(1), 166
Date: 6/2024