Support and Advance Effective Treatment

Introductory Paragraph

Alcohol and substance abuse are commonly treated with talk therapy, medications and support groups. Alcohol and substance use impacts not just the user but the entire family. There are several evidence-based therapies for alcohol and drug misuse. The most common evidence-based therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or a 12 step-program. Medication-assisted treatments have proven effective in treatment of opioid use disorder. Medication in combination with talk therapy can reduce withdrawal symptoms and promote long-term recovery.

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Key Information

According to a 2019 national survey, about 14.5 million people ages 12 and over in the United States had an alcohol use disorder and 8.3 million people had a substance use disorder within the past year. Effective treatments support long-term recovery and promote abstinence as well as improvements in work, family, relationships, and overall mental health and well-being.

Substance use disorders are treated to meet the needs of the individual and may include the following:

• Therapy
• Medications
• A combination of therapy and medications
• Peer Support programs
• 12 Step or Recovery Programs

Evidence-based treatment that has been researched and scientifically proven include talk therapy and several modalities proven to be effective with treatment of substance use disorder.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is therapy during which you meet one to one with a therapist and is proven to reduce substance use and have a positive impact for life improvements. CBT is also proven with trauma which may coincide with substance use disorders.

• 12-step therapy programs: Twelve-step programs (like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) are self-help group therapy programs are evidence based in assisting with maintaining sobriety.

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

There are both outpatient and inpatient treatment options including residential treatment depending on what is best suited for level of care for an individual. Some treatments and substance use disorders may require detox either as outpatient or inpatient and based on a medical professionals advice.

Relevant Research

Evaluating Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Effectiveness: Recent Advances

Therapeutic Communities Research Report- What Are Therapeutic Communities?

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition) What is drug addiction treatment?

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide

Variations in therapist effectiveness in the treatment of patients with substance use disorders: an empirical review

Impactful Federal, State, and Local Policies

Please list any federal, state, or local laws, policies, or regulations that support this topic or ones that could be a possible barrier. Are there laws or policies other states should know about and replicate for success?

Available Tools and Resources

Oftentimes, there are already great resources in the field that have been developed, but they are not housed in a single place. Please use this section to share information about those resources and drive the reader to that resource. It may be a worksheet, toolkit, fact sheet, framework/model, infographic, new technology, etc. I suggest no more than 5 really good links and a corresponding description for the reader. We also can use this section to highlight some of the great resources and programs at SAFE Project.

Promising Practices

Please link to any best practice models or case studies that highlight creative/innovative or successful efforts in support of this strategy. Is there a community that does a really good job in this area that other communities should replicate? Please write a brief description and provide a link.