Assessing the need for substance abuse services: A critical review of needs assessment models

This paper reviews and critiques nine models for assessing alcohol and other drug-related service needs in the addictions field. The overall intent is to provide needs assessment planners with an up-to-date inventory of models that may be used in the planning of services at the local or state level. Each model possesses a number of underlying statistical and methodological assumptions which planners must carefully consider before making their selection. The questionable validity of certain assumptions requires that the process of generating estimates of need be based on a number of models in order to triangulate the results. The number and variety of models available to needs assessment practitioners has increased in recent years. It is concluded that existing models currently in use in the alcohol treatment area will gradually be adapted to assess the needs of illicit drug users and to assess the health promotion needs of the general population. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd