Massachusetts Analysis Finds Capacity Gaps In Addiction Treatment Services Limit Access To Residential Step-Down Services

In 2014, fewer than half of Massachusetts residents who received detoxification acute treatment services (ATS) and who were referred for residential step down services were able to obtain them, in part due to lack of available beds in the state’s addiction treatment continuum. Discharge and capacity data by service setting from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) indicate that on average, 3,472 adults are discharged from ATS detoxification each month, but only 17% could access clinical stabilization services (CSS) upon discharge from ATS because there are three times as many ATS beds . . .