Chapter 9
Treatment

Overview

The most prevalent disease of the brain is substance abuse, however it is treatable. Current issues in treatment include the rapidly expanding use of psychiatric medications, the use of brain-imaging techniques, the lack of treatment resources, and the conflict between an abstinence-oriented approach and a harm-reduction approach. Treatment leads to recovery in 50% of cases and saves at least $4 to $20 in actual costs for every $1 spent.

Treatment can be customized for culture, gender, ethnic origin, and other specialized populations. This chapter examines the goals of treatment, the different treatment options available, the stages of treatment (detoxification, initial abstinence, long-term abstinence, and recovery), individual/group therapy, the involvement of the family, target populations, and recent developments in treatment medications.