Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency - Behavioral Health for the New Century

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BDAP Drug and Alcohol Principles of Effective Treatment

Background
Alcohol and other drug abuse and dependency treatment services must be provided by service providers licensed by the Department of Health's Division of Drug and Alcohol Program Licensing, to ensure that minimum standards are being maintained to protect the health, safety and welfare of the client.

Philosophy
Substance abuse and dependence are primary diseases, not symptoms of other underlying conditions. Substance use disorders can be diagnosed, are responsive to treatment and are complex behavioral disabilities usually having chronic medical, social and psychological components, which result in multiple negative consequences. Substance abuse and dependence related problems affect not only the dependent individual, but other family members, particularly children. Denial is a central characteristic or symptom of substance abuse and dependence that complicates an individuals ability to acknowledge a problem.

Principles

Treatment needs to be readily available. Because individuals who are addicted to drugs may be uncertain about entering treatment, taking advantage of opportunities when they are ready for treatment is crucial. Potential treatment applicants can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or is not readily accessible.

No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals. Matching treatment settings, interventions, and services to each individual's particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in returning to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and society.

Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. To be effective, treatment must not only address the individual's drug use but any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.

Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way. Because addictive disorders and mental disorders often occur in the same individual, patients presenting for either condition should be assessed and treated for the co-occurrence of the other type of disorder.

Treatment should be client specific and guided by an individualized treatment plan based upon a face to face comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation of the patient and when possible, a comprehensive evaluation of the family as well.

Counseling (individual and group) and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction. In therapy, patients address issues of motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Behavioral therapy also facilitates interpersonal relationships and the individual's ability to function in the family and community.

Self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Double Trouble are essential adjuncts to the treatment process. Attendance should be encouraged when appropriate.

Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies. Methadone and Burpenorphine are very effective in helping individuals addicted to heroin or other opiates stabilize their lives and reduce their illicit drug use. Naltrexone is also an effective medication for some opiate addicts and some patients with co-occurring alcohol dependence. For persons addicted to nicotine, a nicotine replacement product (such as patches or gum) or an oral medication (such as bupropion) can be an effective component of treatment. For patients with mental disorders, both behavioral treatments and medications can be critically important.

Treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and counseling to help patients modify or change behaviors that place themselves or others at risk of infection. Counseling can help patients avoid high-risk behavior. Counseling also can help people who are already infected manage their illness.

Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, the threshold of significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment. Treatment may include Residential care followed by Intensive Outpatient care or Partial treatment followed by Outpatient care, or any movement through the level of care continuum. After this threshold is reached, additional treatment can produce further progress toward recovery. Because people often leave treatment prematurely, programs should include strategies to engage and keep patients in treatment.

Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug use can occur during or after successful treatment episodes. Addicted individuals may require prolonged treatment and multiple episodes of treatment to achieve long-term abstinence and fully restored functioning. Participation in self-help support programs during and following treatment often is helpful in maintaining long-term abstinence.

Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. Strong motivation can facilitate the treatment process. Sanctions or enticements in the family, employment setting, or criminal justice system can increase significantly both treatment entry and retention rates and the success of drug treatment interventions.

Persons recovering from alcoholism or other drug dependencies are viewed as important resources in the statewide service system. As representatives of the recovering community, persons in recovery serve as an inspiration to the addicted client. As a practicing professional they provide an empathetic and knowledgeable approach to treatment philosophy, offer valuable input into the recovering community network, and serve as a voice for patient advocacy.