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Outpatient Drug Treatment

According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as many as 23.6 million people throughout the United States are currently in need of substance abuse treatment for either drugs or alcohol. When looking at treatment options, a drug and alcohol counselor will place a patient in a treatment program based off ASAM treatment placement guidelines. One of the options from these guidelines is outpatient therapy. Outpatient therapy can consist of a host of different treatment techniques.

  1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    • One possible treatment technique that may be used during outpatient treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of treatment that addresses the behaviors and emotions behind using an addictive substance, and then strives to provide the necessary skills to change the addictive behavior.

    Group Therapy

    • Group therapy is also a common part of outpatient drug treatment programs. Group therapy gives patients the ability to talk to other addicts who are struggling through the same issues. This allows peer interaction, roleplay and group learning skills to be taught. Group therapy also gives the addict a support group of people to turn to when struggling with becoming sober while in treatment.

    Family Therapy

    • Since a drug or alcohol addiction not only affects the user, but also the user's family, family therapy is often an integral aspect of outpatient treatment. Family therapy not only gives a chance for the family to learn more about the addiction and how to help the treatment program be successful, but also gives a chance for the family to heal along with the addict.

    Contingency Management

    • Contingency management uses motivational incentives to help change an addictive behavior. By rewarding the addict for staying clean with either verbal praise or specified physical rewards, the user has an additional incentive to become sober.

    Support Groups

    • Support groups are similar to group therapy, but are more of a system of support outside of treatment. There are a variety of support groups available ranging from religiously inspired to secular inspired. Support groups give a recovering addict a place to not only vent, but encouragement to stay clean through the course of outpatient treatment, as well as after graduating from the treatment program. Two of the most popular options for support groups are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

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