An argument for choice. An alternative women's treatment program

Current substance abuse treatment strategies tend to be relatively narrow and not empirically based. This is a result of a general failure on the part of practitioners to keep abreast of current research, which would direct them toward more effective models. Substance abuse treatment, usually based on a "one size fits all" philosophy, is often not particularly effective. Substance abuse research is often limited to the measurement of a single outcome--abstinence--and research on alternative models is scarce. This article argues for more flexible models of treatment that are based on research. A substance abuse treatment program that uses an empirically based model is described. The program incorporates broader outcomes research, which is yielding encouraging results. The suppositions that directed the research are discussed.