Three Approaches to the Treatment of Drug Addiction

The abstinence-oriented recovery model is best suited for individuals who are somewhat motivated, who are still in a relatively early stage in the drug progression, and who can afford a potentially expensive intervention. The therapeutic community seems best suited for individuals who have a long history of antisocial behavior, especially those who are ordered by the court to participate in this treatment setting for several years, often as an alternative to incarceration. Methadone maintenance seems best suited for individuals who have failed at several attempts at abstinence and have been unable to stabilize their lives. These individuals are usually opiate dependent and have engaged in a fain amount of antisocial and illegal activities.

Certainly a consultation with a mental health professional who is acquainted with different treatment modalities for addiction is useful in assessing the type of intervention that would be most effective for a given individual. A thorough psychiatric evaluation is also important to identify any other psychiatric issues whose presence would influence the choice of treatment. While individual psychotherapy is not a substitute for the three approaches described here, it can supplement them in appropriate cases.