Behavior therapy for drug abuse: a controlled treatment outcome study

Area of Science:

• Addiction research
• Clinical psychology
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Illegal drug use remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective treatment strategies for substance use disorders are crucial.
• Previous research indicates varied outcomes for different therapeutic modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of a behavioral treatment versus supportive treatment for illegal drug use.
• To evaluate long-term outcomes and broader impacts of behavioral interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 82 participants with illegal drug use.
• Behavioral treatment incorporated stimulus control, urge control, contracting, family support, and competing response procedures over an average of 19 sessions.
• Outcomes were assessed at 2, 6, and 12 months, comparing behavioral and supportive conditions.

Main Results:

• Behavioral treatment resulted in significantly higher drug-free rates: 37% at 2 months, 54% at 6 months, and 65% at 12 months, compared to 20% for supportive treatment.
• Effectiveness of behavioral treatment was consistent across various demographics (sex, age, education, marital status) and drug types (hard drugs, cocaine, marijuana).
• Improvements were also observed in employment/school attendance, family relationships, depression, institutionalization, and alcohol use for the behavioral group.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral treatment is a more effective strategy for achieving sustained abstinence from illegal drug use.
• The positive effects extend beyond substance use, improving multiple life domains.
• This approach offers a promising avenue for comprehensive addiction recovery.