Research-Based Guide Highlights Effectiveness of Treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) today published the first-ever, science-based guide to drug addiction treatment. In its Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, the Institute outlines some of the essential components of drug addiction and its treatment based on 30 years of scientific research.
"There is no 'one size fits all' drug addiction treatment program," said Dr. Alan I. Leshner, NIDA's Director. "Because addiction has so many dimensions and disrupts so many aspects of an individual's life, the best programs provide a combination of therapies and other services, such as referral to other medical, psychological, and social services. The combination of treatment components and services to be employed must be tailored to meet the needs of the individual, including where he or she is in the recovery process."
He also noted that treatment is tremendously cost effective -- it's estimated that for every $1 spent on addiction treatment programs, there is a $4 to $7 reduction in drug-related crime, criminal justice costs and theft alone. When savings related to health care are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and to society also come from significant drops in interpersonal conflicts, improvements in workplace productivity, and reductions in drug-related accidents.
The publication of the Principles coincides with an article in the October 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In the JAMA article Dr. Leshner noted, "advances in science have greatly increased, and in fact revolutionized, our fundamental understanding of the nature of drug abuse and addiction, and, most importantly, what to do about it."
He continued, "Although the onset of addiction begins with the voluntary act of
taking drugs, the continued repetition of 'volun
'"/>
Contact: Michelle Muth
mmuth@ngmsmtp.nida.nih.gov
301-594-6141
NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
12-Oct-1999