| Concerning addiction treatment, everybody seems to | | | | treatment produces better results than intense short |
| have an opinion on how to stop using drugs and | | | | term treatment. This tends to lend support to the |
| alcohol. The problem is there are too many opinions. | | | | recovery adage that getting sober is a process, not an |
| If you fall, land on your arm, experience pain and see | | | | event. |
| bone sticking out, it would be an obvious fact your arm | | | | 3. No one type of treatment is best. |
| is broken. Go to a hospital and there is about a 100% | | | | There is no one clear leader or 'gold standard' type of |
| certainty your bone would be set and a cast put on. | | | | treatment. 12 step treatment has been shown to be as |
| Obvious, right? | | | | effective as cognitive behavioral treatment and others. |
| With chemical dependence, the diagnosis, let alone the | | | | Project Match attempted to match types of patients |
| type of treatment, is not so obvious. If a person is | | | | to types of treatments and found out they all worked |
| diagnosed as being addicted to drugs or alcohol, what | | | | equally well, with a slight edge to 12 step facilitation |
| treatment is recommended? Here is where it gets | | | | because of the encouragement of long participation. |
| interesting, as nobody can agree. Even abstinence is a | | | | 4. Confrontation does not work well. |
| debated subject, some people believe in harm | | | | The 'in your face' methods of treatment popular in the |
| reduction, or controlled use. | | | | 1980's do not work as well as forming an alliance for |
| I recently became aware of 2 review studies.* | | | | change with the patient. Patient support and positive |
| Review studies take a look at 100's of controlled, | | | | reinforcement works better than ultimatums. |
| published research studies and then look for facts | | | | 5. Therapeutic relationship is key. |
| supported across many studies. Each of these 2 | | | | Without a doubt the evidence states that having a |
| review studies found certain facts consistent across | | | | positive relationship with either the therapist or a group |
| the boards. Here they are: | | | | (self-help) is a strong factor in recovery. If the is |
| 1. Social support is critical. | | | | relationship is positive, patients are more likely to stay |
| Success rates are drastically improved with a large | | | | engaged. |
| social support network. This network can (and should) | | | | Almost all successful addiction treatment models have |
| include family, friends and professionals. Engaging in | | | | commonalities of education on the disease, building life |
| new social networks such as self-help groups plays a | | | | skills, repairing relationships and staying engaged over |
| significant role in maintaining recovery. | | | | time. |
| 2. Long term treatment is better. | | | | This is just the tip of the iceberg on the realities of |
| The evidence states that long term uninterrupted | | | | addiction treatment. |