Drug Abuse and Addiction: One of America's Most Challenging Public Health Problems
Treatment Can Work

Drug Treatment Works

Research has revealed a number of basic principles that underlie effective drug addiction treatment, as highlighted in NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.

NIDA's Principles of Treatment

• No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.
• Treatment needs to be readily available.
• Treatment must attend to multiple needs of the individual, not just drug use.
• Multiple courses of treatment may be required for success.
• Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.

Drug addiction can be effectively treated with behavior-based therapies and, for some drugs, such as heroin or nicotine, with medications. Additionally, treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection and can improve the prospects for employment.

Treatment for Drug Abuse and Addiction is Delivered in Many Different Settings

Treatment Works
Pre- and post-treatment self-reported changes among those in long-term residential TCs Source: Hubbard et al., 1997¹

Therapeutic communities (TCs) focus on the community as the therapeutic ingredient for facilitating change. The treatment usually consists of full-time engagement with a community of peers and staff members, in a residential setting. Most therapeutic communities consider 6 to 12 months to be the recommended duration of treatment.²

Behaviors of Adolescents Before and One Year After Treatment Source: Hser et al., 2001 ³

Programs tailored to treating adolescents can reduce drug use and criminal activity and improve school performance.

Medications Can Be Useful

Buprenorphine Works! Source: Ling et al., 1998⁴

An increase in the percentage of opiate-free urine specimens is associated with higher doses of buprenorphine. Such pharmacotherapy for the treatment of addiction is now available in medical office settings.

Studies have shown long-lasting effects with continued treatment. In one study, those that stayed in treatment had urine samples that tested negative for opiates 36-65% over a one-year period.⁴

Drug Treatment During and After Imprisonment Not Only Increases the Number of People Who Are Drug-Free., but Also Increases the Number of People Who are Arrest-Free

Delaware Corrections-Based Therapeutic Community Treatment Continuum
% Arrest-Free Since Release at 42-Month Follow-up Source: Inciardi et al., 2002 ⁵

A Continuing Care Strategy is Needed for Addiction as in Other Diseases

Ongoing Treatment Works for Addiction and Hypertension, as Illustrated in this Hypothetical Example Source: McLellan et al., 2002 ⁶

Many chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression, hypertension, and asthma require continual care in order for treatment benefits to be sustained.

Addiction is similar to other chronic diseases in this regard. It requires monitoring of patient status on a regular basis, early intervention regarding possible problems, and proper referrals in order to maintain positive treatment effects.

Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS are Intertwined Epidemics

4 out of 10 U.S. AIDS deaths are related to drug abuse.

Estimated AIDS Incidence in the United States among Adults and Adolescents, by Sex and Exposure Category Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002 ⁷

The portion of AIDS cases related to drug abuse has steadily increased over the course of the past two decades and intravenous drug use continues to be a major contributing cause to the increase in new cases.

Drug Addiction Treatment IS HIV Prevention

HIV Seroconversion at 18-Month Follow-Up is Decreased by Drug Addiction Treatment Source: Metzger et al., 1993⁸

Studies have shown that drug treatment can dramatically reduce the rate at which people acquire HIV.

Partial Recovery of Brain Function with Prolonged Abstinence from Drug Use

Source: Volkow et al., 2001 ⁹