Principles of Effective Treatment (National Institute on Drug Abuse – nida)

1. 
   Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. 
   
2. 
   No single treatment is appropriate for everyone. 
   
3. 
   Treatment needs to be readily available. 
   
4. 
   Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse. 
   
5. 
   Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical. 
   
6. 
   Behavioral therapies—including individual, family, or group counseling—are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.   
   
7. 
   Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies. 
   
8. 
   An individual's treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs. 
   
9. 
   Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders. 
   
10. 
    Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug abuse. 
    
11. 
    Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. 
    
12. 
    Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur. 
    
13. 
    Treatment programs should test patients for the presence of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well as provide targeted risk-reduction counseling, linking patients to treatment if necessary. 
    

Over the last few years treatment centers have sprung up across the United States. In the past, a treatment center would advertise and market their services to the area around the program. There were a few facilities, such as Hazelden in Minnesota that drew people from across the country because of their history and reputation. Due to changes in health care during the last several years, insurance reimbursement for substance abuse treatment has become more common and more lucrative. As a consequence treatment centers from all over the country have marketing representatives assigned to the Chicagoland area.

Recently, I received a call regarding an invoice from an out of state and out of network treatment provider. The invoice for a residential treatment program with a length of stay of about 30 days was nearly $500,000. As the bill was dissected it was discovered that drug testing had been conducted every other day on the patient at a cost of $14,000 per test. According to the “Principles of Effective Treatment” published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), regular drug testing is important but certainly not every other day for $14,000 each.

Unfortunately, many treatment centers and their army of sales people have identified union families as a target population for their marketing efforts as a result of the excellent insurance benefits often enjoyed by union members. In our area we have many excellent and reputable treatment providers. There is rarely any need for a union member or their spouse or child to leave the area for quality, effective treatment.

There are many components of an effective treatment experience and being in another state, or near a beach does not qualify as one of them. It is important to note that quality treatment required the involvement of the family; and in fact, several studies suggest that family involvement in treatment is one of the most critical elements of a successful treatment program. It is harder to involve the family in treatment if the patient is in another state!

Before you seek help with an alcohol or drug abuse problem please call your Employee or Member Assistance Program (EAP/MAP). Program counselors are experienced professionals who are committed to helping you and your family find the best and most appropriate in-network treatment resource possible. The services of the EAP/MAP are free and provided by your “Health and Welfare Fund.”