Drug Addiction: A Growing Problem in Society - Report Sample

Introduction

Drug addiction is one of the most significant issues facing society today. According to a 2017 study carried out by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSUDH), an estimated 19.7 million Americans struggle with some form of drug addiction (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Other than the effects it has on the individual, drug addiction also has social and economic impacts. The problem is bound to get bigger as the uncertainty and devastation caused by COVID-19 lead more people into substance abuse (Volkow, 2020). However, with treatment, the victims can achieve a full recovery and get back to normal lives. The Addicts Recovery Centers, Eastern Kentucky, are committed to this course. Through the incorporation of clinically proven drug treatments and Christian spiritual development and nourishment, the organization seeks to provide freedom and hope to addicts, and ultimately help them achieve full recovery (ARC, 2020). The centers offer both residential addiction treatment and outpatient addiction treatment. This paper seeks to summarize the outcome evaluation for the organization’s programs.

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Importance of Outcome Valuation

Outcome evaluation refers to the techniques used to measure results and hence determine how well the objectives of a program have been achieved. It is an important tool in assessing the effectiveness of a program as well as giving an organization the opportunity to review its strengths and weaknesses, and hence increase the chances of excelling. Primarily, outcome evaluation is used to determine whether a program has succeeded or not. Outcome evaluation consists of three aspects.

First, the objectives of the program must be clearly defined. The objectives must state the specific changes that the program is seeking to bring about. The objectives guide the evaluation criteria, which in turn assesses the effectiveness of the program. Addicts Recovery Center has well-defined objectives. Other than helping the addicts recover fully, the organization also seeks to see them get back to productive lives (ARC, 2020). Besides, it also aims to see the recovered addicts create healthy family relationships, pursue meaningful careers, and become responsible members of society.

Second, there must be a way of measuring the success of the program. The chosen indicators must be measurable and observable. There must also be reliable data to observe changes in the indicators. Both qualitative and quantitative data, or a combination of the two, can be used in the measurement of outcomes. Finally, there must be a way of analyzing the results to determine the effectiveness of the program. Analysis or interpretation of the results requires clear evaluation standards. The level of positive change that is to be taken as success must be defined from the start of the program. Clear standards help overcome cognitive bias. There must also be a point of comparison to identify improvement or impact.

Goals and Their Evaluation

The short-term goal of the organization is to help the clients achieve full recovery. While addiction is considered to be a disease, past studies have shown that full recovery can be achieved. According to statistics, at least 10% of drug addicts are in recovery in the country (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Recovery can be defined as the permanent avoidance of drug use. The organization seeks to achieve this goal through the use of medications as well as a Christian-based approach that aims to restore the balance between the client’s body, soul, and mind. The program also seeks to help the clients develop strong support systems and avoid triggers. The rate of recovery is the primary indicator of success for this goal.

After recovery, the acquisition of meaningful employment is the intermediate goal. Employment helps keep the clients engaged and hence reduces their likelihood of falling back into drugs. They also develop support systems at the workplace, a factor that further contributes to their sobriety. The number of clients who get into meaningful employment will be used as an indicator of success. Addiction Recovery Centers are known for their high success rate in this sector. For instance, the recovery and employment rates of clients from its Peer Support Specialist Academy (PSSA), stands at 80% (ARC, 2020).

The maintenance of employment and recovery is the long-term goal of the intervention. At this stage, the clients have completely overcome addiction and have gone back to their productive lives. The number of clients who maintain their recovery and employment will be the indicator of success.

Timeline

Since relapse often occurs due to the effect of addiction on the brain, recovery is considered to be a lifelong process. As such, a definite timeline cannot be set for this goal. Once the program is over, the clients will be provided with more treatment, when need be. They will also be encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles and depend on family and friends in their recovery journey. Following recovery, the clients are expected to get meaningful employment within two months. Maintenance of employment for more than a year will be an indicator of success in the long-term.

Conclusion

As seen in the discussion, Addiction Recovery Centers seek to help addicts recover and lead productive lives. The objectives of the organization are well-defined, a factor that helps in evaluating the success of the various interventions. The goals are also divided into short, intermediate, and long-term phases to further help in the evaluation of outcomes. Finally, there are measurable indicators of success at each of the stages.

References

American Addiction Centers. (2020, June 1). Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics. Retrieved from American Addiction Centers:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics.

ARC. (2020). Who we are. Retrieved from ARC:
https://arccenters.com/who-we-are.

Volkow, N. D. (2020). Collision of the COVID-19 and addiction epidemics. Retrieved from https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/M20-1212.