Improving the Accountability of California's Public Substance Abuse Treatment System through the Implementation of Performance Models

Abstract Improving the care for individuals with substance use disorders is a national health policy priority. Like other parts of the health care system, the addiction field is under pressure for higher accountability—more efficient use of treatment resources, the delivery of quality services, and the production of positive client outcomes. This introductory article highlights the importance of the collection of articles being published in this special issue as they describe California's efforts toward making the alcohol and drug (AOD) treatment system more accountable and effective.