Addiction treatment therapy is meant to help addicted people stop compulsive drug seeking and use. Therapy can occur in a diversity of settings, in many different forms, and for various lengths of time. Because any dependence is generally a chronic disorder characterized by sporadic relapses, a short-term, one-off treatment is typically not adequate.
For many, treatment is a long-term course of action that involves numerous interventions and frequent monitoring.
There are a number of evidence-based approaches to treating addiction. Drug treatment may include behavioral treatment (such as personal or group counseling, cognitive therapy, or contingency management), medicines, or their combination.
The specific type of treatment or combination of treatments will vary depending on the patient's individual requirements and, often, on the types of drugs they use.
