Treatment Works
Long-term studies have shown that "treatment works" -- the majority of substance-dependent persons eventually stop compulsive use and have less frequent and severe relapse episodes (American Psychiatric Association, 1995; Landry, 1996). The most positive effects are seen while the person is actively participating in treatment, but prolonged abstinence following treatment is a good predictor of continuing success. In the year following treatment, the majority of clients show decreased use of alcohol and other drugs and improvement in many areas of life functioning:
- On average, about 75 percent of individuals who go through a treatment program remain drug-free six months later, and 63 percent are still drug-free one year later.
- One third of clients remain symptomatic during the year following a single alcohol treatment episode. The remaining two thirds show, on average, large and significant decreases in drinking and related problems.
- Almost 90 percent of those who remain abstinent for two years are also drug- and alcohol-free at ten years (American Psychiatric Association, 1995).
- Employment rates nearly double and crime rates are reduced by 80 percent in the first year among those who have completed treatment.
- Significant reductions in family disturbances and psychiatric problems are reported. Hospitalizations decrease by one third for those completing treatment.
Research published in 2001 (Hser et al.,2001) evaluated the effectiveness of three different types of drug treatment for adolescents in four different cities. One year following treatment for alcohol and other drug problems, adolescents showed improvement in the following areas:
- Decreased harmful use of alcohol
- Decreased marijuana use
- Decreased criminal behavior
- Improvement in psychological adjustment
- Improved school attendance and performance.
The research showed similar results for all types of adolescent treatment, but the longer a teen remained in treatment, the better the results.
A recent comparison of treatment compliance and relapse rates for persons in treatment for opiate, cocaine, and nicotine dependence with outcomes for three common and chronic medical conditions (hypertension, asthma, and diabetes) found similar response rates across the addictive and chronic medical disorders. All of these conditions require behavioral change and treatment compliance for successful outcomes. The conclusion is that treatment of drug addiction has a similar success rate to that of other chronic medical conditions.
Information in this fact sheet is from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs).
For more information,contact the
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 687, 1706 East Elm
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4942
1-800-364-9687
