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Effectiveness of rehabilitation services according German Social Act XII for persons with substance use disorders Abstract. Background: Rehabilitation services according to German Social Act XII (SGB XII) for persons with substance use disorders provided by mainly inpatient facilities in the greater Hamburg area are an important pillar of social and health care policy. Objective: The study analyzed the effectiveness of these interventions for new clients entering rehabilitation services with regard to the achievement of objectives in the areas of addiction and social integration which are determined in an agreement between client and rehabilitation staff on a regular basis at treatment onset. Methods: In a prospective pre-post-analysis both clients and rehabilitation staff were interviewed by means of a paper-pencil-survey. The interviews were conducted at treatment onset and after 6 months or, in case treatment was ended prior to the end of month 6, at an earlier date. Results: In total 255 clients were included in the study. The majority of clients either largely or fully met the agreed objectives in the areas of addiction and social integration. An improvement of the clients’ situation regarding substance use could be found in more than two thirds of all cases. Impairments according to ICF have decreased; psychological distress (BSI-18) and health-related quality of life (SF-12) have improved. A longer duration of interventions and a greater intensity of care show positive effects as to these improvements. Conclusion: The study is the first external evaluation of rehabilitation services according to German Social Act XII to show that the defined objectives are being fully met in a large part of clients. However, due to its single-arm study design the validity of this analysis is limited, further studies are required. Rehabilitation services according to German Social Act XII are an important supplement to the treatment system for persons with substance use disorders who are beyond the reach of regular health care measures and rehabilitation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]