Treatment Methods & Evidence-Based Practices for Addiction Treatment

Evidence-based addiction treatment is a prominent component of rehab programming and may include a combination of strategies.^1,2 If you or someone you love are struggling with substance misuse or addiction, you can benefit from learning more about how an evidence-based treatment center might suit your needs and help you on your path to recovery.

What Is Evidence-Based Treatment?

Evidence-based treatment, also known as evidence-based practice (EBP), refers to the use of the best available treatment to treat patients effectively and efficiently based on scientific evidence.³ This means that evidence-based treatments have been evaluated and tested in clinical research and found to be effective for the specific disorder they were designed to treat.⁴

Research has shown that evidence-based treatment for addiction is a useful and effective way to not only improve various outcomes (depending on the specific treatment and problem) but also help boost a person’s overall health and wellbeing.^5,6

Finding a treatment center that uses evidence-based practice drug treatment methods may be an important step on a person’s journey to recovery.

Evidence-Based Treatment Methods

There are many evidence-based drug treatment models, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapeutic method is based on the idea that maladaptive behaviors, including substance misuse, are impacted by learning processes. During CBT, a person is taught how to identify and overcome unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that influence behaviors like substance use; the person also learns specific relapse prevention strategies, such as self-monitoring to identify cravings early and healthy ways of dealing with them.²
• Contingency management (CM). This therapy is based on principles of positive reinforcement, whereby people are provided with motivational incentives, often in the form of tangible rewards like cash or prizes, in exchange for positive behavioral outcomes, such as negative drug tests or attending therapy sessions regularly. CM has been shown to increase abstinence as well as treatment retention.²
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET), which is sometimes referred to as motivational interviewing (MI). MET is a form of therapy designed to help a person increase their internal motivation to make positive life changes. During MET, a counselor will collaboratively develop a plan with the client to make desired changes. MET focuses on helping people cultivate a sense of self-efficacy, whereby the counselor uses an approach to elicit change internally, within the client, rather than simply directing the person through a series of steps. MET has been shown to be effective, depending on the substance a person uses and their goals, largely in terms of helping people remain engaged in treatment.²
• Family behavior therapy (FBT). This is a form of behavioral therapy for adolescents and adults that focuses not only on substance misuse but other behavioral problems a person may be facing. It engages the person who misuses substances as well as at least 1 other person, such as a family member or partner, and teaches them different strategies for applying helpful behavioral skills in real life and improving their home environment.²
• 12-Step facilitation therapy. Participating in 12-Step support groups can be a helpful part of a person’s recovery journey. 12-Step facilitation therapy is designed to familiarize people with and help them engage in groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). It focuses on 3 key principles: acceptance, surrender, and active participation in 12-Step groups.²
• Medications for substance use disorder. People who are struggling with misuse or addiction to certain substances may receive different medications during the withdrawal process as well as to support their ongoing recovery during the maintenance phase.² The use of medication has been found to be more effective when combined with psychosocial therapies.¹
• Peer support services. Participating in different forms of peer support, including group therapy and support groups, has been shown to help people maintain abstinence, both while attending treatment and afterward.²

What Medications Are Used in Addiction Treatment?

As mentioned above, the use of medications is an evidence-based practice in substance use treatment that may be used to help people who struggle with certain substances, including opioids and alcohol, both during the detoxification stage as well as maintenance phase of treatment.^2,7 

Common medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) include:²

• Buprenorphine, a synthetic medication that is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it partially attaches to opioid receptors to reduce cravings and mitigate withdrawal symptoms.² It is a safe medication that has a low chance of overdose.
• Methadone, a synthetic medication that acts as a full opioid agonist, which means that it fully attaches to opioid receptors to reduce cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms, as well as block the effects of opioids. It has been used for a long time in the treatment of opioid addiction.
• Naltrexone, a synthetic opioid antagonist, which means that it prevents opioids from binding to opioid receptors, thereby blocking the effects of opioids. This means that a person will not get high if they use opioids while taking naltrexone, but they may go into opioids withdrawals if opioids are in their system. This acts as a deterrent to illicit opioid use. To prevent withdrawal symptoms, naltrexone is typically only used after someone completes medical detox.

Medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) include:

• Acamprosate, which is a medication that impacts the brain chemicals gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate.² It has been shown to increase rates of abstinence from alcohol use and assist with reducing symptoms of protracted withdrawal.^2,8
• Disulfiram, which is a medication that causes a highly unpleasant reaction if a person drinks alcohol while taking it.² Because of these effects, people may have trouble continuing to take it, so its overall usefulness is limited and research has been mixed. However, it can be helpful for some people, especially those who are very motivated to change their drinking behaviors or those who want to use it periodically during high-risk situations, like at a party where alcohol will be present.^2,8
• Naltrexone, which blocks opioid receptors that play a role in the rewarding effects of alcohol.² It has been shown to be helpful for some people in preventing relapse.²

Benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants are sometimes used in the detoxification process from central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as alcohol to mitigate withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of alcohol-related seizures.⁹

People who have a co-occurring disorder such as depression or anxiety may also receive specific medications to treat their condition.⁶

Evidence-Based Treatment Programs at American Addiction Centers

American Addiction Centers (AAC) programs offer a wide range of evidence-based treatment options. Our evidence-based rehab locations may provide:

• Medical detox to help patients safely and comfortably undergo withdrawal from drugs or alcohol with expert medical supervision, support, and medication.²
• Inpatient or residential treatment, which means patients live onsite at one of our rehabs for the duration of treatment and receive 24/7 care and support.¹⁰
• Outpatient rehab, which allows patients to continue living at home and take care of other obligations while attending treatment.¹⁰ There are varying levels of outpatient rehab, including partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and standard outpatient care.
• Sober living, which are substance-free residences that provide structure, support, and a safe place to live as patients reintegrate into their daily life after completing a treatment program.¹⁰

If you’re struggling with addiction, or you know someone who is, we are here to help. Please call our free, confidential helpline at to speak to a knowledgeable admissions navigator about your treatment and rehab options. You can ask any questions you may have about the rehab process with no obligation to enter treatment, and our admissions navigators can also verify your insurance coverage for addiction treatment.