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Key Question #3:
What is Addiction Treatment?

Treatment can take many different forms and occur in a variety of settings for different lengths of time.  Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder, short-term treatment is usually not sufficient ant may not prevent relapse.  For many individuals addicted to drugs, treatment is a long-term process that involves multiple interventions and attempts at abstinence.¹

Treatment varies depending on the characteristics of the patient, as well as what drugs and alcohol they are using and the length and severity of the addiction. People who are addicted to come from all walks of life. Many suffer from mental health, occupational, health, or social problems that make their addictive disorder difficult to treat.² A comprehensive assessment of the nature and extent of an individual’s history of drug and alcohol use, as well as any co-occurring mental health problems, is critical to formulating an effective treatment plan. Addiction treatment professionals can determine the types of interventions are best suited for the individual such as family-based or cognitive-behavioral interventions, or psychiatric treatment.³ Addiction treatment professionals utilize a range of scientifically based approaches to address these differing needs. These include behavioral therapy (such as counseling, cognitive therapy, or psychotherapy), support groups, family therapy, medications, or their combination.⁴ And, because of the numerous medical consequences of drug addiction, many patients require additional health related services such as treatment for mental disorders, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other medical conditions.

The length of quality treatment that a person receives is critical, as is having a  continuum of care in place. Research has shown that longer term treatment is more effective than shorter term for substance-using offenders. Experts recommend that formal, specialized treatment last a minimum of three months, to give participants time to learn how to break old patterns and to acquire and reinforce new skills to avoid drug use and criminal behavior. Longer term residential treatment programs can often last 6-12 months, and residential programs that treat  parent(s) and their minor children may last as long as 12-18 months.

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