Support and Advance Effective Treatment

Introductory Paragraph

According to a 2022 national survey, about 48.7 million people ages 12 and over in the United States had a substance use disorder within the past year. Only about 11% receive treatment. There is an increasingly important need to provide options for individuals who may benefit from quality and affordable alcohol and drug treatment programs. The demand for treatment is met with a shortage of quality recovery centers in America, which makes it difficult for individuals and their families to receive the care they need. The small populations in rural communities, for example, cannot support the specialized treatment or trained primary care practitioners who are willing to treat individuals living with addiction. This leads many individuals to either go without care or join waitlists for treatment.

Those living with substance use disorders are among the highest cost of healthcare users. Overdose patients in particular place a heavy burden on first responders, emergency departments, and the foster care system. Some options to solve this issue could include innovations such as expanded use of online tools and assessments, integration of primary care treatment, and virtual reality.

There are several evidence-based therapies for alcohol and drug misuse, with most common being talk therapy, medications, and support groups. Evidence-based therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy and 12 step-programs. Medication-assisted treatment has also proven effective in treatment of opioid use disorder. Medication in combination with talk therapy can reduce withdrawal symptoms and promote long-term recovery.

Key Information

There are multiple effective pathways leading to long-term recovery and improvements in work, family, relationships, and overall mental health and well-being. Substance use disorders treatments which meet the needs of the individual may include the following:

• Therapy (individual, group, couples & families)
• Medications
• A combination of therapy and medications
• Peer support programs
• 12-step or recovery programs
• Family support and family recovery programs

Specific evidence-based treatments that have been researched and scientifically proven include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) provides one-to-one attention by a a therapist. CBT has been proven to reduce substance use and to have a positive impact for life improvements. CBT has also been proven to be effective with trauma which often coincides with substance use disorders.

• 12-step therapy programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are self-help group programs which are evidence-based in assisting with maintaining sobriety.

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a combination of medications and talk therapy. Depending on the substance, MAT is an evidence-based option for recovery from alcohol and opioid use.

There are inpatient treatment options, such as residential treatment, and outpatient choices, depending on what is best suited for the level of care for an individual. Treatment may require detox on either an outpatient or inpatient basis, depending upon professional medical advice.

Implementing Treatment in the Primary Care Setting

Primary care providers are highly likely to come in contact with individuals who are struggling with substance use disorders however, only about 3,600 physicians are board-certified in treating addiction. Approximately 4% of all physicians nationwide are certified to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder. A majority of individuals must obtain their medication from Methadone clinics. While these clinics are helpful in assisting people in getting their medication, it is difficult for specialty clinics to meet the demand for services. This calls for more primary care providers to obtain the training and certifications to treat complex cases of substance use disorders. One possible solution for getting more primary care physicians to assist in this issue is to incentivize the screening and treatment of addiction. There are many challenges that primary care providers may face when choosing to treat addiction patients, including stigma, the complexity of this population, and reimbursement for services.

Relevant Research

HHS has a report titled "Best Practices and Barriers to Engaging People with Substance Use Disorders in Treatment." This study addresses the models of care, quality improvement interventions, and best practices used by higher-performing health plans to improve initiation and engagement in SUD treatment. It also describes the provider, beneficiary, and market factors that affect their ability to successfully initiate and engage beneficiaries in substance use treatment services.

This NIDA article provides a literature review of treatment communities, such as community lodges and sober houses that have seen themselves as a mutual self-help alternative to medically oriented strategies to address addiction.

This book is in its third edition and is titled "Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide." It offers health professionals and other stakeholders information on principles of effective drug addiction treatment, answers to frequently asked questions, an overview of the drug addiction treatment landscape in the United States, and an outline of evidence-based treatment approaches.

This book provides a set of analyses focused on the evaluation of alcohol and drug treatment programs.

This article provides a comprehensive review of empirical studies that have addressed differences in patient outcomes and retention rates and their correlation to the effectiveness of the therapists. It notes that the differences appear to be independent of both the therapists' professional background and the patient factors at the start of therapy and that the primary therapist characteristic associated with higher effectiveness is the possession of strong interpersonal skills.

This article provides a review and meta-analysis of treatment services for patients with alcohol use disorders. The research found that pharmaceutical interventions when used with psychosocial co-interventions, resulted in better outcomes. This supports the advantage of the strategy of adding medication to treatment programs for opioid users.

Cost/Benefit Analysis. Drug treatment programs are known for being expensive and difficult to find. Current research suggests that when people are able to enroll in treatment, the benefits impact not only on individuals living with a substance use disorder but also healthcare administrations, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. Recent data suggests that every dollar spent on substance use treatment centers saves $4 in health care costs and $7 in criminal justice and law enforcement involvement. Over $8,200 can be saved on health care and productivity costs per individual who spends at least 60 days in a quality substance abuse treatment program. Thus, it is effective to invest taxpayer dollars and government resources to implement accessible, affordable, and quality treatment centers -- regardless of access to insurance or financial status.

Impactful Federal, State, and Local Policies

The STOP Act. The Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act of 2006 which was reauthorized in 2016 as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. It mandates community coalition enhancement grants, epidemiological research on excessive and underage drinking, and the annual report to Congress on state underage drinking and enforcement activities. It also launched a national adult-oriented media campaign managed by the Interagency Coordinating Committee to Prevent Underage Drinking (ICCPUD).

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report provides a review of prevention, treatment, and recovery policies and programs and discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment.

California. The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act (Proposition 47) reclassified certain theft and drug charges from felonies to misdemeanors enabling focus on more violent crimes and serious offenses. This resulted in monetary savings being directed to school programs, victim services, and mental health. The creation of new drug treatment programs offered a way to decrease recidivism and to support those with newly classified misdemeanor drug possession charges to have more options for recovery.

Available Tools and Resources

SAMHSA has numerous resources including:

• Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator -- a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems. FindTreatment.gov allows users to search for treatment centers while filtering for treatment type, location, and payment options to include private health insurance, Medicaid, or free or no-cost care. There are also filters for special populations such as veterans, LGBTQ+, differently abled individuals, age groups, and language preference.
• The Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center which provides communities, clinicians, policy-makers, and others with information and tools to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings.
• "Selecting Best-fit Programs and Practices: Guidance for Substance Misuse Prevention Practitioners." This resource places the selection of programs and practices within the broader context of evidence-based prevention and covers the value of embedding program and practice selection in a strategic planning process. It provides information on programs and practices, how to choose among them, and tips for their adoption, adaptation, and implementation, and continual improvement.

SAFE Project offers a Treatment and Family Support Locator based upon awareness that the first challenge a person or loved one faces after deciding to accept treatment is finding an effective and affordable treatment center. Treatment locators may help those to find an appropriate center that is suitable for the individual based on their insurance, ability to pay, type of addiction, ability to address co-occurring mental illness, distance from home, and other factors. The SAFE Project Treatment Locator was developed with the University of Maryland to provide a platform that is easy to navigate and that provides the ability to search the SAMHSA database using more criteria to help find the best options available.

BJA has published "Promising Practices Guidelines for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment." This aims to assist correctional administrators and practitioners at the state and county levels in establishing and maintaining programs that adhere to the promising practices suggested by current research and standards for substance-use disorder treatment and criminal justice programming.

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers has a web page titled "Navigate Treatment Options" which provides addiction and treatment FAQs. It evaluates new methods based on developments in neurobiology and behavioral health. It integrates best practices within the bio-psycho-social-spiritual treatment model.

American Addiction Centers provides "Treatment Solutions," an online resource dedicated to helping people find solutions to meet their specific treatment needs. Its website describes how and where to locate free or low-cost drug rehabilitation programs and highlights options for state-funded drug treatment programs, who qualifies for services, and how to local find state-funded treatment options. It also gives information about other possible payment options for treatment such as scholarships, loans, insurance, and how to ask friends and family for support. American Addiction Centers also provides a succinct overview of SAMHSA programs, grants, and treatment services.

Advanced Recovery Systems is a behavioral health company focused on helping people on their path to recovery from substance abuse and mental health issues. It operates a network of inpatient and outpatient addiction and mental health treatment facilities and hosts a website that provides a assistance in navigating insurance for treatment. and a tool that checks if your insurance provider covers addiction care.

Pew Trusts 10 Ways That States Can Improve Substance Use Treatment.

Apps and Online Resources:

• Life Recovery Program is an online program that could be a useful option for people who live in rural areas or for people who are incarcerated. The program consists of bi-weekly online video/audio workshops and practical tools, along with homework exercising, grounding techniques, and supportive emails. It is designed to last 3 to 6 months.
• myStrength is an online and smartphone platform that can enhance the capacity of mental health service providers by enabling them to serve more people more effectively. It can also provide tools to support people between professional consultations. There is solid and growing research on the value and effectiveness of the platform.
• reSET-O. Digital Therapeutics Alliance developed this eFORMULATIONS treatment tool for opiate dependence. It is a mobile medical application that is used in conjunction with pharmaceutical therapies to treat opioid dependence. Clinical trials have shown reSET-O to be a promising solution to opiate dependence, showing that reSET-O plus pharmacotherapy achieved enhanced abstinence from opioids, reduced drop-outs in treatment, and reduced required clinical intervention when compared to traditional face-to-face therapy.
• ShoutOut is an app developed by Recovery Centers of America Telehealth. It delivers comprehensive and evidence-based outpatient treatment for addiction and co-occurring disorders. There are three available levels of treatment available to serve each individual’s needs. Group, individual, and family options are implemented into the program.

Promising Practices

Kentucky. In Kenton County, the prison has become an important treatment facility. Instead of focusing on punishing people with substance use issues, the Kenton County Detention Center envisions turning a time of incarceration into a time for much-needed treatment. Leaders in Kenton County believe that jail may be the best place to initiate recovery. People often end up in jail for minor crimes, long before they commit more serious crimes which warrant a prison sentence. Kenton County is one of over 20 Kentucky county jails that have started full-time therapeutic communities that focus on rehabilitation within their walls, providing inmates the type of services that private treatment centers offer on the outside.

Maryland. The Baltimore County Health Department provides treatment through community providers for substance users and their families. It develops, coordinates, and monitors a countywide network of substance use prevention and disorder treatment services. The Health Department also operates a dedicated phone line staffed with clinical social workers with specialized training in helping people with substance use issues move toward recovery.

Massachusetts. Boston Medical Center opened its Faster Paths to Treatment Opioid Urgent Care Center in 2016. This center, which is specifically for treating patients addicted to prescription painkillers, is located next to the hospital emergency room, giving patients immediate access to comprehensive care including counseling, case management, home visits, and transportation to detox.