A meta-analysis was conducted to assess whether Case Management is more effective than “treatment as usual” for people with substance use disorders in terms of improving treatment outcomes (e.g., successful access and retention in treatment) and personal functioning (e.g., substance use) [1].
This meta-analysis used randomized controlled trials with people with alcohol or drug use disorders and compared Case Management with other “business-as-usual techniques.” To be eligible, interventions had to meet the basic functions of case management as defined in the literature. The overall effect size for Case Management compared to usual interventions was small, but positive and statistically significant, especially for outcomes related to participation and retention in substance abuse treatment programs.