Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is typically delivered in group format, but clinical research focuses on individual therapy. This exploratory study narrows this gap through a survey of 566 SUD group clinicians in the United States, concerning most commonly used group practices, attitudes about evidence-based treatments (EBTs), and beliefs about addiction. Clinicians reported high celebrities that drink alcohol everyday use of open groups, moderately high utilization of EBT practices, and moderate use of questionable practices.
Group Therapy for Substance Use Disorders: A Survey of Clinician Practices
These discussions empower individuals to face life’s challenges without turning to substances for solace. Group therapy provides a platform for individuals to share their personal triggers and learn from the triggers of others. Discussing coping strategies and creating an individualized plan for avoiding or dealing with triggers is essential in group therapy.
Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Abuse Treatment
Group therapy for substance abuse will have a trained leader conducting the session.3 Unlike in family therapy, the members in group therapy will not usually have pre-existing relationships outside of sessions. The cost of substance misuse treatment is contingent on factors such as whether you opt for inpatient or outpatient care, the coverage provided by your insurance, and the specific details of your case and the program offered by each treatment center. Third, the use of treatment components from EBTs was positively correlated with clinicians’ attitudes of EBTs being intuitively appealing as well as clinicians being open to new practices and treatments. However, this result was not found in relation to clinicians’ reported likelihood of using EBTs if required by their organization or external forces.
- First, the widespread use of group therapy for SUD treatment reported in this study suggests that EBT implementation may be more successful if group therapy—and open groups in particular—are viewed as normative.
- Within a treatment program, this typically takes place through several therapy sessions over multiple weeks.
- This guide helps counselors improve their skills in leading group therapy sessions for substance use treatment.
- Evidence-based practice was formally defined by Sackett et al. 12 in 1996 to refer to the “conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients” (p. 71).
Group-based opiate use treatments for adults
Greenfield et al. 52 compared a group drug counseling (GDC) (mixed gender) to a women’s recovery group (WRG) that both met weekly, for 12 weeks, for 90-min sessions among 44 participants that had a substance use disorder other than nicotine. WRG evidenced significantly greater reductions in drug and alcohol use over the follow up compared with GDC. Schottenfeld et al. 88 compared GDC (weekly, 1-h group sessions) to a community reinforcement approach (CRA; twice weekly sessions for the first 12 weeks and then weekly the following 12 weeks) among 117 patients with an opioid and cocaine use disorder. Two studies compared the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy plus group therapies 79,80,81 to pharmacotherapy alone in samples of opioid solution based treatment and detox reviews dependent persons, and both found that adding group treatment improved outcomes. The first study compared Naltrexone with monthly medical monitoring visits to an enhanced group condition (EN) consisting of Naltrexone plus a Matrix Method (MM) 79.
To ensure you receive the treatment you need, we encourage you to take the first step by filling out the included form for a free insurance verification or call us at . If you prefer searching on your own, our extensive directory can assist you in finding a rehab facility that aligns with your treatment needs and preferences. Instead of viewing it as a failure, it should be seen as a signal that additional support or adjustments to the treatment approach are needed. Relapse does not indicate a lack of effort or dedication; rather, it underscores addiction’s chronic and challenging nature.
Relapse Rates After Completing Treatment
By adhering to an aftercare plan, individuals can better navigate the challenges they may encounter post-treatment. Group therapy topics centered around self-reflection and mindfulness teach individuals to stay in the present moment, understand their feelings, and develop healthier ways of coping with stress and anxiety. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, and it’s a vital trait for those in recovery. Group therapy topics related to resilience can encompass stress management, emotional regulation, and self-care strategies.
Contingency management is a type of behavioral therapy in which patients are reinforced or rewarded for positive behavioral change 47. Harm reduction is a term for interventions aiming to reduce the problematic effects of behaviors 48. Several treatment approaches also focus on interpersonal networks and building interpersonal skills. For example, social support is any psychological resources provided by a social network to help patients cope with stress 49. Twelve-step facilitation group therapy is a more specific form of social support, which focuses on introducing patients to the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous or related groups (i.e., gallstones and alcohol cocaine or narcotics anonymous) to encourage 12-step meeting attendance in their community 33, 50. Seeking Safety is a present-focused and empowerment-based intervention focused on coping skills that emphasizes the importance of safety within interpersonal relationships 51.
Additionally, all participants attended a relapse prevention group conducted three times a week over a 14-week period. Findings provided support for the efficacy of CM for amphetamine use disorders. Group treatment (CM or drug + CM) was more effective for sustaining longer periods of abstinence relative to TAU or non-CM conditions. Roll et al. 72 found that effects of CM relative to TAU became larger as the duration of CM increased. Jaffe et al. 70 evaluated a culturally tailored intervention for 145 methamphetamine dependent gay and bisexual males.
If you’re considering detoxification services, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, aftercare, and/or behavioral therapy, American Addiction Centers (AAC) offers a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches across different treatment settings. Addiction treatment plans can include any number of services, including various kinds of therapy. Patients may benefit from one type of therapy over another; others may thrive in recovery utilizing a combination of addiction treatment methods. While individual therapy offers a one-on-one counseling environment, some may benefit more from group counseling services, and many benefit from utilizing both therapy types. As you proceed through treatment and recovery, you may find it helpful and/or necessary to access behavioral therapy to deal with anger, sadness, stress, or other emotions.