Final reports from the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS)
| DOI | 10.1177/02645505100570030908 |
| Date | 01 September 2010 |
| Published date | 01 September 2010 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
High levels of alcohol-related need were identified with the NPS caseload but
analysis of OASys data highlighted that over 40 per cent of all alcohol-related inter-
ventions had not yet commenced 4–6 months after supervision had started. In addi-
tion to addressing the timeliness of interventions, the report recommends that the
scale and quality of training offered to offender managers requires improvement
if they are to effectively deliver brief interventions to alcohol-misusing offenders.
With regards to ATRs, the research outlines that demand far outweighs availabil-
ity. As such, the report recommends that given the significant existing levels of need,
establishing funding for the expansion of ATRs should be a priority for policy makers
and senior managers.
Research on the effective targeting of alcohol focused interventions within a crim-
inal justice context is limited Britain. In light of the lack of empirical research avail-
able to inform work with alcohol-misusing offenders, the report highlights the
importance of ongoing research to identify, develop and disseminate emerging
examples of best practice.
McSweeney, T., R. Webster, P.J. Turnbull and M. Duffy (2009) Evidence-based
Practice? The National Probation Service’s Work with Alcohol-misusing Offenders.
London: Ministry of Justice. The report is available from: www.justice.gov.uk/
publications/reserach.htm
Emmeline Taylor
Greater Manchester Probation Trust
Final reports from the Drug Treatment
Outcomes Research Study (DTORS)
In a series of reports the Home Office has presented final findings from the national
evaluation of drug treatment in England, the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research
Study (DTORS). The study comprised a longitudinal survey of outcomes (reported
in Jones et al., 2009), a qualitative assessment of the factors that impact on effective
treatment (reported in Barnard et al., 2009) and an economic analysis (reported in
Davies et al., 2009). An overall summary of the findings from these three reports is
presented in Donmall et al. (2009).
A previous study, the National Treatment Outcomes Research Study (NTORS),
described the effectiveness of treating problem drug users between 1995 and
2000. Since the NTORS study there have been changes in the delivery of drug treat-
ment (in particular the increasing use of referral into drug treatment through the crim-
inal justice system) and changes in the population receiving treatment (in particular
rises in the use of crack or cocaine) (Donmall et al., 2009).
The aims of the DTORS as described in Donmall et al. (2009) were to:
explore the outcomes associated with drug treatment;
provide an in-depth description of the needs of treatment providers and see-
kers and the factors affecting the success of treatment; and
assess the cost-effectiveness of drug treatment services.
Research & reports 333
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