Support and Advance Effective Treatment

Introductory Paragraph

According to a 2022 national survey, about 29.5 million people ages 12 and over in the United States had an alcohol use disorder and 48.7 million people had a substance use disorder within the past year. 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 therapies are cognitive behavioral therapy and 12 step-programs. Medication-assisted treatment has 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 are treated to meet the needs of the individual and 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

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

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

• 12-step therapy programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are self-help group therapy programs that 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.

Relevant Research

Best Practices and Barriers to Engaging People with Substance Use Disorders in Treatment

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

SAMHSA Programs, Grants & Treatment Services Locator: SAMHSA’s National Helpline

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report

The STOP Act- Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act

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 in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.
• The Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center which provides communities, clinicians, policy-makers, and others with the 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 Practitioner," 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.

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 related standards developed for substance-use disorder treatment and criminal justice programming.

SAFE Project offers a Treatment and Family Support Locator> to "find critical resources and options best matched to your needs or the needs of a loved one."

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers has a web page titled "Navigate Treatment Options. This provides addiction and treatment FAQS as well as evaluates new methods based on developments in neurobiology and behavioral health, integrating practices within a best practice bio-psycho-social-spiritual treatment model.

American Addiction Centers provides Treatment Solutions an online resource dedicated to helping people find solutions that meet their specific treatment needs.

Promising Practices

Drug Free Communities (DFC) There are hundreds of local substance use prevention coalitions that have participated in the DFC Program. Funding by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) provides up to $125,000 per year for five years to local community coalitions to apply evidence-informed strategies.

New Jersey There are nearly 400 Municipal Alliances in New Jersey -- all organized to provide substance use prevention education services. Each alliance focuses on its community’s particular needs and may include:

• parenting workshops to enhance parent’s ability to assist their children to live a healthy and drug free lifestyle,
• peer leadership programs to train students to develop leadership skills and goal oriented behaviors and to be role models and helpers to other students,
• drug awareness events that offer families and community members drug-free activities while providing information about substance abuse and community-wide prevention programs, and
• collaboration with the Division of Senior Services to provide education on potential consequences of medicinal interactions with other medicines, over-the-counter drugs, or alcohol.