Effective Addiction Treatment

13 Principles of Effective Drug Treatment

By Jonathan Huttner

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a federal agency that is part of the National Institute of Health, issued 13 principles of effective addiction treatment for drugs in 1999. These effective drug treatment principles include an emphasis on addiction treatment for the whole person: They reported the following:

1. There is no effective addiction treatment program appropriate for all individuals.
2. Effective addiction treatment needs to be readily available.
3. Effective drug addiction treatment focuses on the multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use.
4. In order to ensure an effective drug addiction treatment, it must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that the plan meets the person's changing needs.
5. Remaining in drug addiction treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for drug treatment effectiveness.
6. Individual or group counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for drug addiction.
7. Medications are an important element of effective drug addiction treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.
8. Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders (dual diagnosis) should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
9. Medical detoxification is only the first stage of effective addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
10. Addiction treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
11. Possible drug use during drug addiction treatment must be monitored continuously.
12. Effective addiction treatment programs should provide assessment for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
13. Counseling should be provided to help patients modify or change behaviors that place them or others at risk of infectious diseases.
14. Recovery from drug addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment.

It is important to match the needs of the individual requiring addiction treatment, with the actual services provided through a specific addiction treatment program. An effective addiction treatment program will be able to assess the individual's needs and provide a personalized approach to treatment.

If you require assistance locating an effective drug rehab program, go to www.99Detox.com or call the national addiction treatment helpline at 1-800-820-5841. Get effective addiction treatment today.