Ownership differences in the provision of outpatient substance abuse services

The authors examine the assumption of the 1980s that the provision and costs of substance abuse services, among others, could best be met by expanding programs in the private sector. The study presents a comparison of public and private substance abuse services, based on data drawn from a national sample of outpatient units, and develops a profile of treatment and financing within three auspice (ownership) categories--private nonprofit, private for-profit, and public. An input-throughput-output framework was used to assess the public-private differences within a wide range of organizational characteristics.