Principles of Effective Treatment in Addiction

Questions and Answers

Treatment must attend to individual needs and be continually assessed for effectiveness

To adjust the treatment plan to meet the individual's changing needs

Counselling and other behavioural therapies

Assessment for blood-borne viruses and other infectious diseases, and counselling to help modify or change behaviours Signup and view all the answers

Treating both disorders in an integrated way Signup and view all the answers

To manage withdrawal symptoms Signup and view all the answers

That different individuals respond best to different treatment approaches Signup and view all the answers

To compare the effectiveness of different treatment approaches Signup and view all the answers

They had higher rates of PTSD, depression, and borderline personality disorder Signup and view all the answers

The majority of participants abstained from heroin use for 1 month prior to the 12-month follow-up Signup and view all the answers

It allows for more effective matching of clients to treatment approaches Signup and view all the answers

They often experience co-occurring mental health disorders Signup and view all the answers

That different individuals respond best to different treatment approaches at different times Signup and view all the answers

Improved treatment effectiveness and efficiency Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Effective treatment attends to individual needs, is readily available, and continually assessed for effectiveness.
No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals, and treatment plans must be modified continually to ensure they meet the person's changing needs.
Counselling and other behavioural therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction.
Medications are an important element of treatment, especially when combined with counselling and other behavioural therapies.
Clients presenting with coexisting mental health and substance abuse should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
Medical detoxification is only the first stage of treatment and does little to change long-term drug use.
Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously.
Treatment programs should provide assessment for blood-borne viruses and other infectious diseases, and counselling to help modify or change behaviours that place the person or others at risk of infection.

Informed eclecticism is an openness to a variety of approaches guided by scientific evidence.
There is no single superior approach to treatment for all individuals.
Treatment programs should be constructed with a variety of approaches that have been shown to be effective.
Different individuals respond best to different treatment approaches, and it is possible to match clients to optimal treatment.

The Australian Treatment Outcomes Study (ATOS) compared treatment approaches and matching for heroin users.
The study found that treatment sample differed from the general population, with more PTSD, Depression, Borderline PD, and disability.
The study's outcomes showed general functioning improved, and a majority of participants were abstinent for the 1 month prior to 12-month follow-up.
Noticeable reductions in criminal behaviours, improved injection-related health, and decline in depression were also observed.
Many people recover from harmful substance use without psychological therapy.
Comprehensive assessment, including mental health assessment, is essential as substance use and mental health problems often occur together.