Addictions Recovery

About Addictions Recovery

For most of the duration of addictions treatment in the United States, the 12-Step model has been the prevailing framework utilized by substance use disorder treatment providers. However, not only is the 12-Step model ill-fitting for some individuals, the 12-Step approach is intended to be voluntary, with individuals self-selecting to participate rather than being coerced to “work the steps” and “go to meetings” against their will. Ethical and contemporary addictions treatment should appropriately educate clients about the 12-Step model and support client involvement with those for whom it is a good fit, but other research-based and effective approaches should also be utilized. These include variations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and Trauma-Informed/Trauma-Specific treatment services in addition to the traditional Twelve Step Facilitation (TSF) approach.

Substances of Abuse

Follow the links below to access free informational resources pertaining to substances of abuse, including the following:

See all Substances of Abuse resources

Treatment Resources

The following represent posted manuals containing valuable information to guide the development and implementation of evidence-based addictions treatment services:

SAMHSA's Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series

Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) series publications offer best-practice guidelines for the treatment of substance use disorders and other behavioral health conditions. The federal government's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has drawn on the experience and knowledge of clinical, research, and administrative experts to produce the TIP series, which are distributed to a growing number of facilities and individuals across the country. The audience for TIP series publications has expanded beyond public and private substance abuse treatment facilities as alcohol and other drug disorders are increasingly recognized as a major problem, in need of being more effectively addressed. A primary goal of each TIP publication is to convey "frontline" information quickly but responsibly. For this reason, TIP recommendations are attributed either to the clinical experience of expert panelists, or to findings from cited research literature. Access this collection of publications and tools on over 50 important topics.

Go to TIP Series

Spirituality

Spirituality has been a long-recognized and vital component of 12-Step fellowships & faith-based treatment programs. In recent years, spiritual matters have gained growing recognition for their role in overall behavioral health and well-being, even by secular organizations as diverse as the American Psychological Association & the World Health Organization. Access any of the publications below to find out more: