Each year, therapeutic communities (TCs) serve tens of thousands of people with varying degrees of drug problems, many of whom also have complex social and psychological problems. Research supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has helped document the important role TCs serve in treating individuals with drug-related problems.
Further research is being conducted on the treatment processes in TCs to better understand how TCs work. Links between treatment elements, experiences, and outcomes need to be further studied to fully appreciate and enhance the con-tributions of TCs. NIDA's research program is currently focused on expanding our knowledge of the TC treatment process and improving our understanding of organizational and management strategies to deliver more effective and efficient treatment services.