With all the different approaches to drug and alcohol treatment available, it can be hard to find the right one. From groups with steps and meetings to holistic approaches or those that use medication to treat the addiction, it’s challenging to find the right fit. Most people simply want a treatment that will work.
Evidence-based treatments are growing in popularity because they’ve been demonstrated to be effective before. This kind of addiction therapy is therapy that’s supported by evidence, research, or science. Counselors in evidence-based treatment centers use science-supported methods to treat addiction.
This kind of treatment is founded on evidence-based practice (EBT), defined as “the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values.” It combines the counselor’s professional expertise with high-quality research and evidence and the client’s interests, needs, and values.
The approach includes a treatment facility that bases its programs on meaningful results, like previous clients who have achieved long periods of sobriety, or may be a treatment facility that applies the results of studies conducted on opioid addiction to the treatment of clients. Both of these approaches may be considered evidence-based.
Types of Evidence-Based Treatment Methods
The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that each evidence-based method of addiction therapy is intended to address different aspects of drug addiction and its effects on the addict, their family, and society.
H3 Evidence-Based Pharmacotherapies
This medical treatment safely helps clients withdraw from drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal from some substances, including Benzodiazepines and alcohol, can be fatal. Other forms of withdrawal can leave the person extremely ill, weak, and in pain. For example, methadone is used to treat heroin addiction, while naltrexone is used to curb alcoholism.
Evidence-Based Behavioral Therapies
These kinds of therapies are intended to help modify the patient’s attitudes to drug or alcohol use and achieve long-term success. The treatment helps clients increase their life skills and re-route destructive thought patterns that can trigger cravings. The therapy is long-term and intended to help clients work through difficult situations and painful emotions using positive coping techniques instead of drinking or using drugs.
Evidence-based behavioral therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Contingency Management (CM) Interventions and Motivational Incentives
- Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- 12-Step Facilitation Therapy
- Family Behavior Therapy
Combining Both Treatments
Often, successful addiction treatment programs combine medication-based therapy with behavioral therapy and professional counseling. Addiction treatment can start with medication to ease withdrawal symptoms and help clients safely detox. Then, behavioral therapy helps explore the underlying causes of drinking or using drugs and treating the behavior.
Evidence-based treatment is the cornerstone of treatment at Baystate Recovery Center. We offer day treatment and intensive outpatient therapy for drug and alcohol addiction and family therapy to help heal after addiction. We focus on the needs of the individual and tailor each program to meet those needs.
Our counselors and clinicians are professionally trained in addiction therapy and use evidence-based treatment to help give our clients tools to achieve long-term sobriety. We embrace group and individual counseling using cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you’re concerned about your drug or alcohol use, or about a loved one, contact us today. We offer a confidential assessment and can help you find the right treatment plan to help you break free of addiction.
Baystate Recovery Center, a clinically Infused 12-Step Treatment Center for Drug and Alcohol Addiction, was founded by two partners in addiction treatment services, John Checchi and Michael Wilson.
