Trends in the development of alcohol and drug treatment services in Ontario: a replication and extension of a previous study.

Abstract

This paper summarizes the major trends in the development of alcohol and drug treatment services in Ontario from 1979 to 1989. Data were obtained from all treatment services in the province by surveys undertaken in 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989. Supplementary archival data are included on the use of American treatment programs by Ontario residents over a similar time period. Across the period of analysis, there has been a rapid increase in the number of alcohol and drug programs (130 to 217), their total cost ($44.4 million to $77.1 million) and the total treatment caseload (30,356 to 61,622). With respect to different types of services, the largest growth in capacity has occurred for specialized assessment/referral centres. Use of short-term residential resources within the province has risen slightly but this has been augmented by a rapid increase in the use of similar programs in the United States. Contrary to expectations from research evidence and provincial policy initiatives, only modest gains have been experienced with non-residential treatment alternatives compared to the increases in availability and utilization of residential treatment programs.