What are some effective interventions for substance use disorders?

1 Screening and assessment

The first step in helping clients with SUDs is to screen and assess their needs and preferences. Screening is a brief process that identifies the presence and severity of SUDs and related issues, such as mental health, physical health, and social functioning. Assessment is a more comprehensive and detailed evaluation that determines the diagnosis, causes, and impacts of SUDs and guides the treatment planning. You can use various tools and methods to screen and assess clients, such as standardized questionnaires, interviews, observations, and biological tests.

2 Motivational interviewing

One of the most widely used interventions for SUDs is motivational interviewing (MI), a client-centered and collaborative approach that aims to enhance clients' motivation and readiness to change their substance use behavior. MI involves four key principles: expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. You can use MI to help clients explore their ambivalence, resolve their conflicts, and strengthen their commitment to change. MI can also be combined with other interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, and medication-assisted treatment.

3 Harm reduction

Another effective intervention for SUDs is harm reduction, a pragmatic and compassionate strategy that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of substance use without necessarily requiring abstinence. Harm reduction acknowledges that some clients may not be ready or willing to stop using substances, but still deserve respect and support. Harm reduction can include various services and programs, such as needle exchange, safe injection sites, overdose prevention, naloxone distribution, and drug checking. You can use harm reduction to help clients minimize their risks, improve their health, and access other resources.

4 Family involvement

Family involvement is a crucial intervention for SUDs, as it can enhance clients' recovery outcomes and provide support and education to their family members. Family involvement can take different forms, such as family therapy, family education, family support groups, and family case management. You can use family involvement to help clients and their families cope with the effects of SUDs, improve their communication and relationships, and address their co-occurring issues. Family involvement can also increase clients' adherence to treatment and reduce their relapse rates.

5 Peer support

Peer support is a valuable intervention for SUDs, as it can offer clients emotional, practical, and informational assistance from people who have lived experience of SUDs and recovery. Peer support can include various modalities, such as peer mentoring, peer coaching, peer recovery groups, and peer recovery centers. You can use peer support to help clients develop their recovery capital, such as skills, knowledge, confidence, and social networks. Peer support can also foster clients' empowerment, hope, and resilience.

6 Relapse prevention

Relapse prevention is an essential intervention for SUDs, as it can help clients maintain their recovery and cope with potential triggers and challenges. Relapse prevention is a cognitive-behavioral intervention that teaches clients to identify and avoid high-risk situations, manage their cravings and emotions, and implement coping strategies and contingency plans. You can use relapse prevention to help clients consolidate their learning, reinforce their self-efficacy, and prepare for the future. Relapse prevention can also help clients learn from their lapses and recover from their relapses.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?