Treatment of Drug Abuse

Abstract

The major drug-treatment modalities-methadone maintenance, therapeutic communities, outpatient drug-free programs, and some criminal justice system-based treatments such as civil commitment-have all been shown to be successful by most outcome criteria. Programs with flexible policies, goals, and philosophies produce better results than inflexible programs, especially when they adopt combinations of treatment components that are suited to individual clients' problems and needs. Patients' lengths of time in treatment are highly correlated with positive outcomes, but dropout rates are high for most modalities. Clients entering treatment under legal coercion do as well by most outcome criteria as volunteer clients and may stay in treatment longer. The evidence on treatment effectiveness suggests a social policy of expanded treatment capacities and options and increased attention to adequate implementation of treatment programs.