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Using Administrative Data for Longitudinal Substance Abuse Research

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Abstract

The utilization of administrative data in substance abuse research has become more widespread than ever. This selective review synthesizes recent extant research from 31 articles to consider what has been learned from using administrative data to conduct longitudinal substance abuse research in four overlapping areas: (1) service access and utilization, (2) underrepresented populations, (3) treatment outcomes, and (4) cost analysis. Despite several notable limitations, administrative data contribute valuable information, particularly in the investigation of service system interactions and outcomes among substance abusers as they unfold and influence each other over the long term. This critical assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of using existing administrative data within a longitudinal framework should stimulate innovative thinking regarding future applications of administrative data for longitudinal substance abuse research purposes.

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Acknowledgments

The project described was supported in part by Grant Number P30 DA016383 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Hser is also supported by a Senior Scientist Award (K05DA017648). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. Special thanks are due to staff at the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs for manuscript preparation. We particularly wish to thank Dr. Anoinette Krupski for her generous insights and comments.

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Evans, E., Grella, C.E., Murphy, D.A. et al. Using Administrative Data for Longitudinal Substance Abuse Research. J Behav Health Serv Res 37, 252–271 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-008-9125-3

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