Methodological issues and practices in measuring perinatal alcohol and other drug treatment outcomes

Information about the effectiveness of alcohol and other drug treatment programs for chemically dependent women is limited, partly due to a general lack of studies, as well as methodological limitations among those that do exist. This manuscript describes some issues and practices derived from the design and implementation of an evaluation of health and social outcomes of participants in the California Perinatal Services Network, a statewide effort designed to promote perinatal alcohol and other drug treatment and recovery through effective services. Certain advantages and disadvantages for sampling, recruitment, and data analytic strategies based on findings from this research are presented that may be useful to the planning and implementation of other AOD outcomes investigations.