RD272 - Substance Abuse Services Council Report on Code of Virginia § 2.2-2697 for 2014 - October 1, 2015


Executive Summary:
The 2004 General Assembly amended § 2.2-2697.B of the Code of Virginia to direct the Substance Abuse Services Council to collect information about the impact and cost of substance abuse treatment provided by public agencies in the Commonwealth and to “include the following analysis for each agency-administered substance abuse treatment program: (i) the amount of funding expended under the program for the prior fiscal year; (ii) the number of individuals served by the program using that funding; (iii) the extent to which program objectives have been accomplished as reflected by an evaluation of outcome measures; (iv) identifying the most effective substance abuse treatment, based on a combination of per person costs and success in meeting program objectives; (v) how effectiveness could be improved; (vi) an estimate of the cost effectiveness of these programs; and (vii) recommendations on the funding of programs based on these analyses.” As used in this document, treatment means those services directed toward individuals with identified substance abuse or dependence disorders, and does not include prevention services for which other evaluation methodologies exist. Publicly funded substance abuse treatment services in the Commonwealth of Virginia are provided by the following state agencies: the Department Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and the Department of Corrections (DOC). Common goals of these programs include abstinence or reduction in alcohol or other drug usage and reduction in criminal behavior.