What Types Of Addiction Treatment Are Available?

Addiction treatment is not a one-size-fits-all process. Every person is unique and requires an individualized treatment approach.

As a result, there are many different approaches to substance abuse treatment. In general, the more treatment approaches a rehab center offers, the more personalized its care offerings are.

What Types Of Addiction Treatment Are Available?

There are many different types of addiction treatment available. From levels of care to specific treatment services, recovery programs for substance use disorders can vary greatly.

The level of care generally refers to the setting in which the specific treatment services take place.

Levels Of Care In Substance Abuse Treatment

There are two main levels of care in the treatment of substance use disorders: inpatient and outpatient programs.

Inpatient treatment refers to programs that require clients to live onsite for the duration of treatment, while with outpatient care, clients continue to live at home.

Within these two categories, you will find:

• inpatient detox services
• short-term inpatient treatment
• residential treatment
• long-term residential treatment
• partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
• intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• standard outpatient treatment
• aftercare

These levels of care represent a full continuum of care that will look different for each client. For example, a person may require medical detox services, followed by a residential treatment program, with aftercare for sobriety maintenance.

On the other hand, there are some treatment programs that are only available at the outpatient level, such as some opioid treatment programs.

Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment Services

An evidence-based addiction treatment service or approach is one that has been proven through scientific research to be effective.

There are many different types of evidence-based treatment services that can be applied at various levels of care, including behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy describes a range of clinical psychotherapy approaches that treatment providers use to address behaviors related to addiction.

These modalities help people facing substance use disorder (SUD) discover the root causes of their addiction, find the motivation to pursue long-term recovery, and build recovery skills for relapse prevention.

Behavioral therapy modalities include:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• motivational interviewing (MI)
• rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
• contingency management (CM)

Other modalities approach therapy at the group level, including:

• family therapy
• peer group therapy
• assertive community therapy (ACT)
• therapeutic communities (TC)

Therapists and counselors use these treatment approaches at the inpatient and outpatient levels of care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT refers to the practice of using medication combined with therapy to help clients overcome an SUD. This approach is most commonly used for opioid and alcohol use disorders.

The medications used in MAT help control withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. Treatment providers at rehab facilities often administer these medications, but MAT is also available at the outpatient level.

Medications used for opioid use disorder (OUD) include:

• methadone
• naltrexone
• Suboxone
• buprenorphine

Medications used for alcohol use disorder (AUD) include:

• acamprosate
• disulfiram
• naltrexone

When paired with counseling or therapy, MAT is very successful in helping people stay on the path to recovery.

Peer Recovery Support

There are a few treatment modalities that use group support, accountability, and mentorship to help people find and maintain sobriety.

People facing addiction can get involved with peer recovery support during inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, or as part of an aftercare program.

The 12-step program offered by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the most well-known peer recovery groups, having helped thousands of people over the last several decades.

Another peer recovery approach is called SMART Recovery. Whereas the 12-step program incorporates spiritual concepts, SMART Recovery was founded as a research-based group support model.

Non-Evidence-Based Treatment Services

Most rehab centers base their treatment on evidence-based practices. However, many will also incorporate non-evidence-based treatment services to offer a more holistic approach.

The most common types of non-evidence-based treatments are holistic and faith-based addiction treatments.

Holistic Treatment

Just like its name implies, holistic substance abuse treatment addresses the whole person through practices that complement what is learned through therapy.

Holistic treatment includes:

• mindfulness practices
• yoga
• acupuncture
• alternative therapies like animal-assisted, nature, or narrative therapy

You may find a treatment center that relies wholly on holistic treatment approaches, but this is rare.

Faith-Based Treatment

Treatment providers may also use faith-based treatment services to complement evidence-based approaches.

Treatment programs that rely almost exclusively on faith-based principles are more common than those that rely on holistic therapies.

Faith-based services include:

• Bible classes
• prayer groups
• worship services
• biblical counseling
• group accountability

Find Addiction Treatment Today

If you or a loved one are facing addiction, you can find treatment today. Call us to learn more about treatment options and how to access them.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff