Paul Sacco, PhD, associate dean for research at the SSW, is a co-author of new research published in the international journal Aging & Mental Health.
The article, "The effect of legal mandates on substance use disorder treatment completion among older adults," seeks to determine "the relationship between referral type (legally mandated versus non-mandated) and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment completion among older adults and by primary substance used. Findings suggest that the motivating influence of treatment mandates may encourage completion of SUD treatment among older adults. Although the legal mandates for treatment are punitive, they may act to keep older adults with SUD engaged in treatment, an important factor as treatment completion is inversely related to relapse of a SUD."