The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS)

DTORS was carried out by the National Drug Evidence Centre (NDEC) in collaboration with the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) on behalf of the Home Office.

The study is about people who are entering drug treatment programmes in England.  It aimed to find out what sort of things affect a person's chances of success in drug treatment programmes.  The information will be used to plan the provision of drug treatment and other services in this country, to help as many people as possible overcome their drug problems.

• a major longitudinal outcomes study of drug treatment in England
• based on a sample of drug users presenting for treatment at 94 DATs
• clients interviewed at baseline, 3-6 months and 11-13 months
• includes a qualitative study and a cost effectiveness study 

Drug and Alcohol Findings have published their review of the DTORS study, under the headline Crucial study delivers mixed scorecard for drug treatment in England.  They say:

"For drug treatment in England, studies do not get any more important than this - the first national reassessment for over 10 years."

• Donmall, M., Jones, A., Davies, L., Barnard, M. (2009). Summary of key findings from the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS)  London: Home Office.
• Jones, A., Donmall, M., Millar, T., Moody, A., Weston, S., Anderson, T., Gittins, M., Abeywardana, V., D'Souza, J. (2009).The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Final outcomes report  London: Home Office.
• Barnard, M., Webster, S., O'Connor, W., with Jones, A. & Donmall, M. (2009).The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Qualitative Study  London: Home Office.
• Davies, L., Jones, A., Vamvakas, G., Dubourg, R. & Donmall, M. (2009). The Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS): Cost effectiveness analysis  London: Home Office.