Study Details | Pathways to Work

28607-Study of The New Orl

Study quality: Low

Low

Reason for the rating: This study received a low study quality rating because the implementation of the randomized controlled trial was compromised and it does not demonstrate that the program and comparison groups were sufficiently similar before the program.

Program: The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Project (NOHSAP)—Transitional Care (TC)

Services provided:

Case management, Housing supports and subsidies, Mental health services, Treatment or recovery services for substance use disorder

Setting: Urban only

Methods and Standards Protocol version used for review: Version 1.0

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Study design

Design:

Randomized controlled trial

Study group formation:

This study used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Adults who completed NOHSAP's seven-day detox program and were evaluated as suitable for the program were included in the pool for selection into the program group. Initially, researchers assigned 24 participants deemed suitable for treatment to the program group with a probability of 1 until capacity was reached. The remaining participants in the eligible pool were to be randomly assigned to the program (residential transitional care or residential transitional care plus extended care/independent living) or the comparison group. However, of the 164 individuals who received the program, only 53 were randomized. In addition, 80 individuals were enrolled in the transitional care program without randomization; 8 enrolled after being randomized to the comparison group; and 11 were randomized to the program group but did not enroll. The comparison group consisted of 506 participants in total. Both the unit of assignment and unit of analysis were at the individual level.

Time period of study:

February 1991 to January 1993

Pathways to Work only reports results from studies with a study quality rating of high or moderate.

Sample characteristics

Age

Mean age

34 years

Sex

Female	25%
Male	75%

Education

Had a high school diploma or GED	52%
Did not have a high school diploma or GED	48%

Specific employment barriers

Had a substance abuse disorder	100%
Were experiencing homelessness	100%

Program implementation

Implementing organization:

Not available

Program services:

The program group participated in a residential transitional care (TC) treatment program intended for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. The program was designed to last 21 days. Participants were housed in the NOHSAP residential facility, where they participated in group meetings twice per day, received assessment and case management services, and were placed in an off-campus drug or alcohol support group. Those who completed the TC program were also eligible for placement in a 12-month extended care/independent living (ECIL) program, which continued and amplified the services received in the TC program. Before they were assigned to the program group, all participants completed a seven-day detoxification program in the residential facility, involving limited counseling and assessment, and an introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous principles.

Mandatory services:

None

Comparison services:

The comparison group participated in a seven-day residential detoxification program, involving housing in the NOHSAP facility, limited counseling and assessment, and an introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous principles. They were then released back into the community, with no further services provided.

Study publications

Devine, Joel A., Charles J. Brody, and James D. Wright (1997). Evaluating an alcohol and drug treatment program for the homeless; An econometric approach, Evaluation and Program Planning 20(2): 205-215. Available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149718996000547?via%3Dihub.

Devine, Joel A., James D. Wright, and Charles J. Brody (1995). An evaluation of an alcohol and drug treatment program for homeless substance abusers, Evaluation Review 19(6): 620-645.

Devine, Joel A., James D. Wright, and Laurie M. Joyner (1994). Issues in implementing a randomized experiment in a field setting, New Directions for Program Evaluation, (1994)63: 27-40. Available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ev.1681.

Wright, James D., Joel A. Devine, and Neil Eddington (1993). The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Programs, Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 10(3-4): 51-64. Available at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J020V10N03_05.

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Pathways to Work refers to programs by the names used in study reports or manuscripts. Some program names may use language that is not consistent with our style guide, preferences, or the terminology we use to describe populations.

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Study of The New Orleans Homeless Substance Abusers Project (NOHSAP)—Transitional Care (TC)