What are the latest advances in addiction treatment?
The latest advance in addiction treatment is the recognition that addiction must be treated like other chronic diseases, rather than as acute or episodic ones. In this context, treatment is best viewed as a continuum of different types and intensities of services. A phrase commonly used in the current treatment field is “recovery management,” referring to the structured process of accessing and completing the range of services on the road to health and self-sufficiency. Under the continuum of care model, individuals with substance use disorders move through the spectrum of treatment and other social services. A service network of different programs that provide a multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is ideal. These services should encompass the various types of substance use occurring in the community, should account for differences in client characteristics (e.g., age, gender, racial or ethnic group identification, socioeconomic level), and should be formally linked with other
