Behavioral treatments for drug problems: lessons from the alcohol treatment outcome literature

Behavioral approaches have a strong track record in the treatment of alcohol problems. They are generally cost-effective (Holder et al. 1991), can be readily combined with and enhance the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions (e.g., Azrin et al. 1982), and have been found to be applicable all along the continuum of problem severity. Cognitive-behavioral strategies appear to be particularly helpful in addressing common problems of treatment motivation, retention, and compliance. There is no reason to expect substantially different findings when behavioral strategies are applied in the treatment of other drug problems.