HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDApacket__03-14-22_0813_312
NOTICE OF MEETING
REGULAR MEETING
FOUNTAIN HILLS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Chairman Peter Gray
Vice Chairman Scott Schlossberg
Commissioner VACANT
Commissioner Clayton Corey
Commissioner Susan Dempster
Commissioner Dan Kovacevic
Commissioner Rick Watts, Jr.
TIME:6:00 P.M. – REGULAR MEETING
WHEN:MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022
WHERE:FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Commissioners of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call; a quorum of the
Town’s Council, various Commission, Committee or Board members may be in attendance at the Commission meeting.
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to A.R.S. §1-602.A.9, subject to certain specified statutory exceptions, parents have a
right to consent before the State or any of its political subdivisions make a video or audio recording of a minor child. Meetings
of the Commission are audio and/or video recorded and, as a result, proceedings in which children are present may be subject
to such recording. Parents, in order to exercise their rights may either file written consent with the Town Clerk to such
recording, or take personal action to ensure that their child or children are not present when a recording may be made. If a
child is present at the time a recording is made, the Town will assume that the rights afforded parents pursuant to A.R.S.
§1-602.A.9 have been waived.
REQUEST TO COMMENT
The public is welcome to participate in Commission meetings.
TO SPEAK TO AN AGENDA ITEM, please complete a Request to Comment card, located in the back of
the Council Chambers, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion of that item, if
possible. Include the agenda item on which you wish to comment. Speakers will be allowed three
contiguous minutes to address the Commission. Verbal comments should be directed through the
Presiding Officer and not to individual Commissioners.
TO COMMENT ON AN AGENDA ITEM IN WRITING ONLY, please complete a Request to Comment card,
indicating it is a written comment, and check the box on whether you are FOR or AGAINST and agenda
item, and hand it to the Executive Assistant prior to discussion, if possible.
REGULAR MEETING
1.CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE – Chairman Gray
2.ROLL CALL – Chairman Gray
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to reasonable
time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on matters raised
during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action. At the conclusion
of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to review a matter, or
(iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
4.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: approving the regular meeting minutes of the
Planning and Zoning Commission February 14, 2022.
5.HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDER AND POSSIBLE ACTION: regarding Ordinance 22-01,
amending Chapters 1, 5, 10, and 11 of the Zoning Ordinance to provide the definitions of
family and community residences, the regulations for community residences, and the zoning
districts where allowed.
6.REVIEW AND DISCUSS: possible Zoning Ordinance text amendments to address drug and
alcohol treatment centers and detoxification facilities.
7.COMMISSION DISCUSSION/REQUEST FOR RESEARCH to staff.
8.SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS from Development Services Director.
9.REPORT from Development Services Director.
10.ADJOURNMENT
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING OF NOTICE
The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing notice was duly posted in accordance with the statement filed
by the Planning and Zoning Commission with the Town Clerk.
Dated this ______ day of ____________________, 2022.
_____________________________________________
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5199 (voice) or
1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or to obtain
agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the Commission with this agenda are
available for review in the Development Services' Office.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of March 14, 2022 2 of 2
ITEM 4.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 03/14/2022 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
Staff Contact Information:
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): CONSIDERATION AND
POSSIBLE ACTION: approving the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission
February 14, 2022.
Staff Summary (Background)
The intent of approving meeting minutes is to ensure an accurate account of the discussion and action
that took place at the meeting for archival purposes. Approved minutes are placed on the Town's
website and maintained as permanent records in compliance with state law.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
N/A
Risk Analysis
N/A
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff recommends approving the meeting minutes of the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and
Zoning Commission February 14, 2022.
SUGGESTED MOTION
MOVE to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission February 14,
2022..
Attachments
PZ MM 2.14.22 Draft
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 14, 2022
1.CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
Chairman Gray called the meeting of February 14, 2022, to order at 6:00 p.m.
2.ROLL CALL
Present: Chairman Peter Gray; Vice Chairman Scott Schlossberg;
Commissioner Clayton Corey; Commissioner Susan Dempster;
Commissioner Dan Kovacevic; Commissioner Roderick Watts, Jr.
Staff
Present:
Development Services Director John Wesley; Town Attorney
Aaron Arnson; Attorney John Paladini; Executive Assistant Paula
Woodward
3.CALL TO THE PUBLIC
4.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: approving the regular meeting
minutes of the Planning and Zoning Commission February 14, 2022.
MOVED BY Commissioner Susan Dempster, SECONDED BY Commissioner
Clayton Corey to approve the Planning and Zoning Commission minutes of the
Regular Meeting of January 10, 2022.
Vote: 6 - 0 - Unanimously
5.CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION: regarding a site plan for Park
Place Phase II (16845 E. Avenue of the Fountains) and Phase III (13000 block of
N. Verde River, west side).
Mr. Wesley said that the site plans are for the Park Place phase II located at
16845 E Avenue of the Fountains and Phase III located at 13000 block of North
Verde River , West side. He explained that the Park Place (three-phase, five
building, mixed use project) overall development was approved by the Town
council in June of 2016. The overall master plan for the property included five
buildings, up to 420 dwellings and 43,000 square feet of commercial space.
The actual dwelling units were reduced to 380 and actual retail space to 41,000
square feet. The overall parking spaces are 150 more than required. He said
that under the current Zoning Ordinance the Planning and Zoning Commission
and the Town Council do not typically review and take action on site plans.
However, the Development Agreement requirement is for the review and
approval by the Commission and Council. He noted that the Development
Agreement uses the term “Concept Plan” which has since been changed in
the Zoning Ordinance to “Site Plan.” “Concept Plan” and “Site Plan” are one
and the same. Mr. Wesley said although the project appears to meet technical
requirements, specific issues would need to be resolved in order for the project
to move forward. Specific issues to resolve for Phase II, Building E & F are:
relocation of the electric boxes out of the right-of-way, solid waste enclosure
location, size and accessibility, water feature access and all required site plan
pages resubmitted with the approved plans. Staff is concerned with the Avenue
of the Fountains streetscape. Issues to resolve for Phase III, building B are:
relocation of the utility box-cannot be located in the right-of-way or Art Walk,
Fountain Hills Sanitary District Well, Paul Nordin Parkway right-of-way
abandonment, new Town parking lot spaces and need a complete plan
submittal.
Bart Shea, N-Shea Group, the Developer of Park Place, said that it is seven
years into the development and it was a two-year process to actually attain the
development agreement with the Town. Mr. Shea said that Park Place is
successful with 480 residential units and commercial. Currently, the
commercial is about 25% under current market for retail space. He said he is
providing all the tenant improvements for free. He said they are 100%
committed to the is project but in order to meet the parking requirements, the
Art Walk would have to be removed.
In response to Commissioner Dempster, Mr. Shea said that seventy-two
parking spaces would be gained by removing the Art Walk and the buffer area.
There are no issues with the current buildings.There is a
20% parking reduction allowed but are not acting on that. The site for
residential and commercial is 100% parked. If the Town wants to make an
amendment to parking it can be met.
Commissioner Dempster expressed concern that losing the buffer between the
project and Park Place was not a good idea. Some people bought in the “At
the Town Center” with the understanding a buffer would exist between the two
properties.
Commissioner Watts asked about the retention location.
Mr. Shea said that the retention area is underground. It is underneath the
parking area and pumps out to the Town storm drain.
In response to Chairman Gray, Mr. Wesley replied the current General Plan
2020 is applicable to this project. Mr. Wesley confirmed that, as stated in the
Development Agreement, the art fee for the Park Place project was reduced to
50% of the standard art fee charged to developers.
Mr. Wesley said that the project was short 3 parking spaces. The requirement
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 2 of 18
is130 parking spaces.
Chairman Gray expressed concern regarding the commercial space in building
F. The site plan is not clear to how the public would access the area or even
know about it. In regard to the “marquis corner” located at AOTF and Saguaro
Blvd. he stated that he could not in good faith approve non-retail at the
location. He said there is not enough information regarding the continuity of the
facades between then and now. In regard to building B, he said it deserves
more than surface parking.
Mr. Shea said he believes he is not bound by the 2020 General Plan. In the
past, The Town Council made sure that retail would not park on that corner.
Parking would eat up too much of the area so that retail would not fit. It does
not make sense. The Town cannot handle as much retail as it thinks it can. He
said that he did not disagree but this is not a redesign. Today is to review the
site plan that it fits inside the Development Agreement.
In response to Commissioner Dempster, Mr. Shea said the buildings will be all
rentals. The average rent in Park Place is $1600 - $1800, more than a home
for rent in Fountain Hills at $2500. It may not be affordable but more affordable
than a home or condo. Mr. Shea said he believes the project is in
conformance with the downtown TCCD. The current Park Place commercial
rented out is 65%.
Discussion took place among the Commission regarding parking, commercial
below grade, continuity of the Avenue, permitted uses – residential and
commercial, development agreement and retail on the corner.
Mr. Shea pointed out to the Chairman that it is stated in the Development
Agreement “residential only in building F.” He said all the commercial space
was used up on the other end of the Avenue. He said that he is asking for the
Commission to vote to recommend approval to the Town Council.
In response to Commissioner Corey, Mr. Wesley said that in the original land
use plan there were two parking lots called, “new Town parking” allocating 130
parking spaces. Due to circumstances out of Mr. Shea’s control the 130
parking spaces were not possible. By changing the design, 127 parking places
would be possible. 130 spaces are required by the Development Agreement.
Some tweaks can be made to pick up the 3 spaces.
Larry Meyers, Fountain Hills resident, said that he doesn’t care what the
development agreement says, the Art Walk needs to be done right. He said
that downtown will not become vibrant with a bunch of apartments. He
suggested that giving up the parking spaces is well worth making the Art Walk
tie in with the Centennial Circle.
Ed Stizza, Fountain Hills resident, said he would like to see the premiere corner
not become just corners of a building. That corner provides an iconic view. He
said he appreciates the Commission looking at this project in detail.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 3 of 18
Chairman Gray asked if Mr. Shea is interested in a continuance.
Mr. Shea said he didn’t think he would have enough time for a continuance
before the DA expires. He said that he would be willing to make some changes.
Commissioner Kovacevic said he had a hard time going against the
development agreement. The Town should honor the agreement. The Art
Walk is a better plan then not and would agree to make parking
accommodations to allow for the Art Walk.
Commissioner Corey noted that there is a walk ability theme in the downtown
area. The Art Walk ties in with that idea. This is also a great way to preserve
some green space in Town.
Chairman Gray asked Mr. Wesley what he though about managing the
administrative process should the Commission provide changes.
Mr. Wesley replied that that things within the scope of work that are outlined in
the staff report are understood and ready to work through. The challenge would
be the location of additional commercial space in building F. There are a lot of
snowball effects that start happening that cannot be understood in order to take
action. The agreement is to get this project on the March 1, 2022 Town
Council meeting. There is not much timeframe to keep things on track for
March.
Mr. Wesley replied to Commissioner Watts that he was not sure Mr. Shea was
referring to early in the evening regarding deviations. There is a 20% parking
reduction allowed in the development agreement.
MOVED BY Vice Chairman Scott Schlossberg, SECONDED BY Chairman Peter
Gray to forward a recommendation to the Town Council to approve the site plan
for Park Place Phase II (16845 E Avenue of the Fountains) and Phase III located
at (13000 block of North Verde River) with the following stipulations: Return to
design of the Art Walk to the size shown on the 2016 approved Land Use Plan;
Amend the Development Agreement not to require the 130 Town Parking Lot
spaces or find alternatives for required spaces; Explore options to bring the
commercial use out to the sidewalk to make it more visible from the street and
consider adding commercial use to Building F: Prior to the Building Permit
issuance: Address all the items listed in the staff report in revised final site plan
for approval; Complete the abandonment of the Paul Nordin Parkway
right-of-way; complete and final any easements and maintenance agreements as
required by the Development Agreement.
Vote: 6 - 0 - Unanimously
6.REVIEW, DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON options for possible
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 4 of 18
6.REVIEW, DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON options for possible
ordinance language updating regulations for group homes.
Mr. Wesley stated that tonight's discussion is directed towards group homes
and associated regulations with that particular issue. The companion topic -
detox facilities is not part of tonight's presentation or discussion. Staff plans to
work on that issue and have it ready for the ready for next meeting.
Detoxification is a medical non-residential activity and is not permitted in
residential districts. The Town understands there is concern that some level of
detoxification may be taking place in sober living homes which would be a
violation. A person in a sober living home can be in a partial hospitalization
program and go to treatment away for the sober living home during the day.
Mr. Wesley provided definitions and requirements that will improve the
opportunity to enforce the proper use of group homes as a place of residence
not for treatment.
Mr. Wesley said that no changes have been made to the rules and regulations,
since the 1993 Town zoning ordinance. The industry has changed quite a bit
since then and warrants updates to the ordinance. Group homes have been
approved and in Town since at least 2005. There are 13 licensed and
approved group homes in Fountain Hills. Two sober living homes have
relocated and three new ones have been approved (1 assisted living, 2 sober
living). Mr. Wesley explained that the registration process begins with checking
the location meets the separation requirement. Once the application is
accepted and requirements met, an onsite inspection is performed by the Fire
Marshal and Building Official for life-safety compliance. The applicant is
required to have a state license and a Fountain Hills business license.
Mr. Wesley said recently there has been push back regarding requirements for
local registration of a few homes. Part of the enforcement process would be to
contact the property owner as means to obtain compliance. The Town has
worked with the State when it appears the home is operating outside the
allowances in the ordinance. It was suggested that the Town kick these homes
out or shut them down. The Town does not have the authority to just shut
down a sober living home. The Town largely relies on the state.
Mr. Wesley provided a fact sheet with details regarding the Fair Housing Act
and definition of community residence. He said the Town Attorney is present to
answer any questions.
Mr. Wesley reviewed possible amendments to the zoning ordinance definitions
in order to clarify allowed activities and address some of the citizens concerns
regarding the possible non-residential in these homes. He said it would assist
with future regulation and enforcement compared to the current limited
definition.
He recommended the following definition as a possible amendment change:
Community residence - A community residence is a residential living
arrangement for five to ten individuals with disabilities, excluding staff, living as
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 5 of 18
arrangement for five to ten individuals with disabilities, excluding staff, living as
a family in a single dwelling unit who are in need of the mutual support
furnished by other residents of the community residence as well as the support
services, if any, provided by the staff of the community residence. Residents
may be self-governing or supervised by a sponsoring entity or its staff, which
provides habilitate or rehabilitative services related to the residents' disabilities.
A community residence seeks to emulate a biological family to foster
normalization of its residents and integrate them into the surrounding
community. Its primary purpose is to provide shelter in a family-like
environment. Medical treatment is incidental as in any home. Supportive
inter-relationships between residents are an essential component. Community
residence includes sober living homes and assisted living homes but does not
include any other group living arrangement for unrelated individuals who are
not disabled nor any shelter, rooming house, boarding house or transient
occupancy.
Mr. Wesley said that further definition of a community residence can be based
on the distinction of the home: long term residency is more similar to
single-family land use and short-term residency is less similar to single-family
land use. There would be some registration and regulation based on the
difference in community impact. The home cannot be regulated based on the
disability type.
He recommended the following subtypes to the definition as a possible
amendment change:
Family community residence - A community residence that is a relatively
permanent living arrangement with no limit on the length of tenancy as
determined in practice or by the rules, charter, or other governing documents of
the community residence. The minimum length of tenancy is typically a year or
longer.
Transitional community residence - A community residence that provides a
relatively temporary living arrangement with a limit on length of tenancy less
than a year that is measured in weeks or months, as determined either in
practice or by the rules, charter, or other governing document of the community
residence.
Mr. Wesley explained that there are regulatory requirements for homes. The
goal is to allow the homes but to prevent an over concentration that changes
the neighborhood setting. Currently, Fountain Hills requires a 1200 feet
separation among these homes. The distance ranges surveyed from other
cities and towns are from 800 feet to1320 feet. The recommendation would be
to maintain what currently is used in Fountain Hills. He said another regulatory
requirement is licensing. Not all community residences require a state license.
The recommendation would be to require a license or certification by the State
of Arizona Department of Health or by the Arizona Recovery Housing
Association or “Permanent “Oxford House Charter. The Oxford House is a
national organization that has a set off recognized standards.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 6 of 18
As part of the application process Mr. Wesley recommended that the following
information be required: if the property is rented, the property owner agree to
the use as a community residence; the scope of service provided; length of
residency; whether or not residents are ambulatory and acknowledge that
persons do not constitute a direct threat; agree to register any resident sex
offenders. More information would be required for a transitional community
residence such as: providing a staff contact person in the event of
neighborhood concerns; require the contact person to provide staff with a
follow-up regarding how the compliant was addressed; a good neighbor policy
placing requirements on residents and visitors regarding issues such as
parking, noise, smoking, cleanliness of property and loitering; comply with ARS
36-2062 requirement to promote safety in the surrounding neighborhood. In
regard to the number of occupants, Mr. Wesley recommended a limit maximum
number of 8 residents in a single-family district. The Town would continue to
require life safety inspections prior to completing registration; allow up to 120
days to complete licensing or certification process; maximum 45 days to vacate
the property of license/ certification is not received or revoked.
Mr. Wesley said that another item to consider is the waiver of reasonable
accommodation. To avoid legal issues, it would be helpful to establish a
procedure to address and process requests for the waivers.
In conclusion Mr. Wesley said that staff understands the concerns of citizens
with the current ordinance and the allowance of group homes. Although the
federal law requires that the Town provide and allow homes residential uses,
staff has recommended several amendments to the ordinance to address
citizen concerns. He said that staff is looking to the Commission for direction on
modifications to include in the revised ordinance.
In response to Commissioner Watts, Mr. Wesley said that currently in Fountain
Hills there are 9 assisted living homes which are geared toward senior living
and then there are 4 homes relating to sober living. The 9 homes would be
considered long-term living homes.
In response to Chairman Gray, Mr. Wesley explained that the suggested
number of occupants was derived by doubling the amount of the maximum
amount of unrelated individual’s occupied under one dwelling definition. A
family residence would be 12 or more months occupancy. A person setting up
a group home would tell us what a typical stay would entail in that group home.
Staff would be excluded from the occupancy number.
Mr. Wesley said in regard to Chairman Gray’s concern regarding the
separation requirement. There are noise ordinances that apply to anyone and
would be applied the same if a violation exists in a group home.
Chairman Gray stated that he struggles to understand the difference in all the
protections that are afforded to an individual and how those same protections
are afforded to a commercial business entity.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 7 of 18
Jon Paladini, Town Attorney, said he was the city attorney in Prescott for nine
years, from 2013 to just recent. He explained the situation Prescott
experienced with sober living homes. At one point in Prescott, population of
about 40,000 people, had 225 sober homes. Prescott had two HUD
investigations and two DOJ investigations in attempts to regulate group homes,
similar to what Fountain Hills is trying to do here. Prescott was fortunate
enough to actually win or be exonerated, if you will, by those investigations. We
brought the HUD investigators to town and drove them around and showed the
clustering problem. Separation is an important piece when it comes to these
homes. Group homes for the disabled are intended to integrate disabled
persons into the society or into the neighborhood. If there is a clustering
problem or have clustering, it creates what are called social service zones or
institutionalized zones. So, the people of the disabled people are living
amongst just disabled people or the majority, and that's not the intent of the
Fair Housing Act. Prescott sort of invented, if you will, this distinction between
the family, community, residents and a transitional community residence.
They're both group home and considered group homes for the disabled.
Residences were allowed in single family residence or single-family zones by
right and the transitional residents were allowed in multifamily by right. The
reason for that is the transitional residences have a month to month or maybe a
yearlong residency which is more like multifamily housing where it's a lease,
and it's a year-to-year lease. Family community residences are more emulate
more of a family if you will, and so those are allowed in single family
residences. Prescott adopted a heavy layer of operational regulation, which
was taken away from the city by state law and now DHS regulates. What goes
on inside those four walls is regulated by Department of Health Services.
Chairman Gray said he appreciates the protection that the American
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act provide. He asked, how is that
same right afforded to a commercial business when they go out and seek to
acquire rent without having those individuals under their care already. So,
we've lost that direct relationship between the protection of the individual and
that individual's right to reside and migrated over to the business.
Mr. Paladini said that Individuals are protected by the Fair Housing Act. There
is something called a direct threat exclusion and that direct threat exclusion
excludes from that Fair Housing Act protection. People who are currently using
controlled substances, illegal controlled substances without a prescription and
other people who pose a direct threat, primarily parolees, could be considered
that and type two and three sex offenders. These types of folks cannot be
prohibited from being covered or being allowed in the group, in the Community
Residence center in town. This is a big concern and the group homes don’t
want these individuals either. In court cases, the protections that apply to the
residents or the disabled persons to be able to have a combination of the Fair
Housing Act. The operator of that group home also has standing because
they're the ones providing the housing of a group home. The Oxford House
model that was mentioned by Mr. Wesley is unique. It is self-governed, there
isn't an outside operator. The house follows a charter from the Oxford House
Organization, and they run it themselves. Group home operators do have
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 8 of 18
standing to seek injunctive relief and damages against a municipality that
doesn't provide the proper reasonable accommodation under the zoning code.
Generally, when it comes to lawsuits and challenges to regulations is it's the
operators that are bringing the suit. They may bring on board one or two of
their residents, as sort of named party. The operators are the ones that are
going to have the protection because they're the ones offering the residential.
In the case law says that group homes for the disabled are considered a
residence or residential use, but they have to emulate a family. When a
business operates one or more group homes, that business, the office of that
business or the headquarters of that business can't be operating out of the
residence, they have to operate in a commercial zone, an office zone or a
business zone. The residential component can be placed or is allowed to be
placed in the residential zone. There is that distinction between the two. So
when your business licensing the business, you can regulate the business
office, but I would not recommend licensing the individual homes because
they're considered residences.
Chairman Gray asked, isn’t that what we're asking to do, though?
Mr. Paladini said that the tracking is primarily for that separation compliance.
The Department of Health services is regulating these sorts of operations
inside the home. The zoning code is really regulating the land used impact. If
you have four disabled persons living in a home, there is no regulation at all.
They are simply, as a matter of right. The five, eight or ten occupancy is where
they become group homes or community residences, depending on the type of
residency. Trying to push that top number down of occupants is tricky. Ten
occupants are a safe number, eight is a risk. Twelve occupants take it to
institutional living, so it can limit at ten with the possible reasonable
accommodation to eleven or twelve occupants. Once above that, it prohibits
that in residential zones. There are reasons why you have six, eight or ten
persons in a home that are required as part of the accommodation. Two main
reasons are particularly in a sober type home is that from a therapeutic
standpoint, that higher occupancy number is actually better than than a lower
number because it's a larger group. Studies show that a larger occupancy
number is better therapeutically. Another reasonable accommodation also
includes the financial ability to operate. The whole point is that the setting has
to emulate a family.
Mr. Paladini said that these homes are not allowed to provide partial detox or
some sort of medical care. The purpose of these homes is to be residential and
that’s it. They cannot provide more than what would normally transpire in a
regular family environment. The distribution of medication can happen to some
degree, just like parents distribute medication to their kids, whether it's
prescription or not.
Chairman Gray asked, where is the line between detoxification and sober
living? Is there a municipal level zoning level consideration?
Mr. Paladini said to be careful using terminology. He said detoxification is a
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 9 of 18
five-to-seven-day process. The addict goes through a five-to-seven-day
chemical, medically supervised detox.The first five to seven days detoxification
is full hospitalization. They don't get to go home at night. The addict stays in
the clinic or the facility for the five to seven days to medically detoxify off of
whatever the addiction is. Then they go into this treatment facility an intensive
in-house facility for 30 to 40 days. They are managing the addiction. There the
other model described is a partial hospitalization. If the partial hospitalization is
two components, a residential component and a medical component, the
medical component must be conducted from a land use standpoint. In a
business office, commercial or wherever medical treatment is allowed clinical
type facilities. The residential component is strictly in residential zones. The
Community residence is where they watch TV, sleep, shower, eat there may be
some type of group therapy The function of the group home is supposed to
emulate a family. It's not intended to be a clinical setting. if you have that
operation where you have the medical treatment here and the residential
component here, the residential component is allowed in your residential
zones.
Chairman Gray stated that the jurisdiction in this case is the Department of
Health Services.
Mr. Paladini said it is not. It is actually the zoning code. If it violates the zoning
code then that's a code enforcement matter. The challenge is discovering
what's going on in the home. The state licensing of those sober homes
prohibits any kind of clinical therapeutic treatment in the home. It's intended to
regulate the operation in the residential home. The reason that state law came
into effect was precisely what Mr. Wesley was talking about. In Prescott, it was
discovered that they were inadequately operated. The city regulated it and then
the state stepped in. Once it's discovered through your collaboration with the
Department of Health Services that the operator is running or is operating
something other than a residence in that residential zone, then code
enforcement action is taken. The regulations that Mr. Wesley is proposing will
help. If somebody is doing something in one of those homes that's not allowed
or if the neighbor suspects, they are going to let the Town and Community
know.
Vice Chairman Schlossberg asked about occupancy limit enforcement.
Mr. Paladini said that's a tough one. There is the ability to regulate through the
building code and typically two persons per bedroom is allowed. In a
3-bedroom house, even though their upper limit would be eight or ten
occupants, it is possible to limit those people to six because you're allowing two
people per bedroom. The general rule of thumb is for every 70 square feet of
space, you can have one person.100 square foot bedroom, 10’ by 10’, which is
kind of typical is two people. That's the other way you would want to look at
and limiting that number of persons because it's a quality-of-life issue for those
people. It's undesirable to put two bunk beds in a 10' by 10' room and cram,
eight to ten people into a two-bedroom house. It’s not allowed for beds to be
put in the living room, garage or things like that. That is another tool in the
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 10 of 18
toolbox to regulate the number of people to a home. The only way to enforce
any of this is to find out about it and be able to prove it. It’s the way the system
works.
Chairman Gray asked Mr. Paladini what was his experience in Prescott with
reasonable accommodation.
Mr. Paladini replied that Prescott’s top number was twelve occupants for the
Community residences. It was six to eight occupants so one through five was
a matter of right. Prescott rarely got requests because once above twelve
occupants, it's a real burden to prove that more than twelve is needed. More
commonly asked was to make a reasonable accommodation to the separation
buffer. A significant number of the “fly by night” operators disappeared because
insurance no longer paid, it is mostly all out of pocket.
In response to Chairman Gray, Mr. Paladini said that a reasonable
accommodation request would be handled administratively. A public meeting
or hearing would not be part of the process since the address remains
confidential. A staff member is appointed to review and approve/deny the
request. There are two primary reasons for reasonable accommodation;
financial viability and therapeutic reasons.
In response to the Commission, Mr. Paladini said that the Prescott model is
exactly what John has proposed in the staff report.
Commissioner Watts asked if there is a way to tie the demographics, the
census data, to zoning and say that the average in this particular locale is three
occupants, and so the maximum is three. He said he would like to see the
occupancy numbers lower than what staff proposed.
Mr. Paladini said that there are two different measurements. A family that's
related by blood or marriage has an unlimited number of people that can live in
a residential zone, an unrelated group of people is up to four as a matter of
right. The five to eight occupants are what is really the reasonable
accommodation. That's the first step in reasonable accommodation. To allow
for disabled people to live in the community, four is a matter of right. Five to
eight occupants are aggressive.Ten occupants is a safe number. Five to ten
occupants are the sweet spot when it comes to being able to defend
challenges. . It is limited by the number of bedrooms in the house. A
3-bedroom house, will have six occupants, two people to each room. If there's a
seven-bedroom house, the cap is eight to ten occupants. In a three-bedroom
house, the six occupants do not include the manager.
Commissioner Watts asked if it is mandatory for the manager be on site 24/7?
Mr. Paladini said that there are two ways the manager can act: as a shift
worker or as the manager living there. Typically, there is one house manager
and six to seven residents. The manager is able to leave the house to do
whatever normal people do when they leave the house. Since four occupants is
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 11 of 18
a matter of right, six would be risky. Most challenges come from the upper
number, eight to ten unrelated living together and the separation requirement.
The eight, ten and twelve occupant number is justifiable because it is
supported by studies that show eight to twelve people are financially
supportable and it is a good therapeutic number. The distance buffer is used to
prevent clustering and allow the integration of the residents in the community.
The buffer separation applies to all group homes not just sober living.
In response to Vice Chairman Schlossberg, Mr. Paladini confirmed that based
on the separation buffer requirement in Fountain Hills, it would be possible for
twenty-five sober living homes to exist at one time in Town. As long as they
meet the requirements, they are allowed.
Mr. Paladini mentioned that a bill was introduced last week allowing no
restrictions to buffer zones for cities and towns or an amendment to no more
than 500 feet.
Chairman Gray asked for clarification regarding the transitional component.
Mr. Paladini said that if these residential components are a week to ten days,
they are not residential. The intent of a residential sober home is a transition
from the treatment facility, whether it's in house or that partial hospitalization to
living on their own. It is a three-to-six-month transition. It's something the Town
will want to look in to. He said he thinks it's worthwhile to say if this partial
hospitalization operations are using homes for seven to ten days, then it's
closer to Airbnb’s than it is to a group home for the disabled. A transitional
community residence is relatively short. It's really a transient stay. This is
something staff can look in to and is an interesting twist.
Chairman Gray said that he would like staff to look into the transitional
community residence.
Commissioner Watts said that to the point of the seven to ten days, there are
organizations that have what they refer to as intensive outpatient programs.
Residents work during the day and in the evening, they migrate to these
houses. That’s a sudden influx of people. How is that regulated.
Mr. Paladini replied that it really doesn't fit into a group home for the disabled.
Even though these folks aren't disabled, it doesn't emulate a family. It's more
like an Airbnb rental. If there are violations on the premise such as narcotics
use, they're not protected by Fair Housing Act. The house and the occupants
may lose their protection. Under Fair Housing Act it's no longer a group home.
Now it's just a party house, for instance. The code enforcement tools would be
used for disorderly conduct type issues or laws. There was a concern in
Prescott that this was going to happen, so they adopted a disturbance or
disorderly residence ordinance. The process included law enforcement showing
up a certain amount of times equaled the property owner charged a fee. These
types of ordinances are often found in college towns. Prescott just looked at
some and tweaked it to fit Prescott. Bottom line is if they are in violation, they
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 12 of 18
are no longer protected under the Fair Housing Act. They are considered a
direct threat. Mr. Paladini said in his opinion If it is throughout the entire house,
they could lose their zoning group and report them to the Department of Health
Services. The zoning code, code enforcement, building code, law enforcement
and the Department of Health Services are all multiple tools that can be
cobbled together and use as appropriate.
Dr. Carol Rogala, said that she has been in practice for 27 years, board
certified in emergency medicine, addiction medicine and primary care
psychiatry. She said that this is big business. There are lists of all the people
who own sober livings, and they're passed around the rehab community. Their
rehab community includes people like myself, drug counselors and the patients
themselves and various social workers. If an individual cannot pay, they are
tossed out. There are lines of people waiting to get in. She said that the term
Intense outpatient sounds confusing when you hear the words. It is 3 hours a
day of counseling for 3 or 4 days. A lot of times this is set up by the court
system. A lot of these people who have been to detox and then go to sober
living, they've been court ordered to do various things. If they don't,
depending on whatever their conviction was, they can get into a lot of trouble.
So intense outpatient, they're not seeing a doctor. There's no medical care,
even though it says outpatient, it's counseling. As far as a detox facility here
and maybe there are plans for another one, but the truth of the matter is well
over 90% of patients are done outpatient There is no reason for these luxury
rehabs other than people have money, and they do it.
John Kavanagh, State Representative and Fountain Hills resident, said this
situation is one of the worst threats he has ever seen to Fountain Hills. He
said that the first thing to is to push the envelope in terms of regulations and
laws. He said that if an attorney says there is a 70% chance of losing, that's a
30% chance of winning on an issue like this. It's worth the effort to do that. He
said he spent six years on the Fountain Hills Town Council and always said to
the attorneys stop telling me what I can't do, tell me what I can do for our
community. The second thing, of course, is be prepared to defend this in court.
It has to be sure that the Town Council is totally behind pushing the envelope
and doing all it can to alleviate this situation otherwise the Town’s reputation is
that the Town rolls over on these issues. The third thing is something residents
have to do if they live near one of these homes, they must document problems.
He said he was a cop for 20 years and in court is a powerful witness is one
who gets up and says, I've maintained a log - on January 3rd at 8:30 he did
this. Then on February 3rd.this happened. That's powerful testimony. Even if
it's only one of these houses that it needs to be shut down because they're not
controlling the situation. He said he met with Chairman Gray and a couple of
other residents. Mr. Kavanagh said they met with an enforcement person from
the Department of Health Services and the Chairman and the members gave
some potentially valuable information about these sober living homes doing
more than they're supposed to be doing, and about the qualifications of one of
the supervising doctors. The enforcement person from the Department of
Health service promised to investigate. In addition, it was learned that
unfortunately sex offenders can't be kept out of a sober living home, but they
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 13 of 18
must be on the registry. So at least they can be monitored. The bottom line is
this is a big threat to the Town. The Town has to do whatever it can reasonably
to keep the ordinances strong and enforce them strong. It needs the backing of
a Town Council who ultimately have to pass these rules, tell staff to adopt
those regulations and stick behind them, even if it means a court battle. He said
that he wants Fountain Hills to be safe and do whatever it takes to keep it
safe.
Cathy Marx, Fountain Hills resident, said that she lives on East Nicholas Drive,
two houses away from a practicing sober living home. They're practicing how
to live soberly, which means mistakes. She said she was told that a drug drop
off was observed in front of her house..She said she asked people who find
drug paraphernalia to collect it. She held up a bag with items found in the
neighborhood. She said this is the reality of citizens and is so tired of
law-abiding, taxpaying citizens having no rights, everyone seems to have more
rights than we do. So that's being said, we are documenting. She said the
collection she held up in the bag was only two weeks’ worth. She said she is
glad these were collected before a child picked it up and put it in its mouth.
That's what we're living with. She thanked the Commission and said keep up
the good work, it is appreciated.
Larry Myers, Fountain Hills resident, said this situation is similar to what he
experienced in Austin, TX. He said Miss Marks is right because the Fair
Housing Act and the Americans for Disabilities Act, while saying they are
creating equality, are creating a greater equality for disabled. He recently spoke
with Mr. Wesley regarding one of the sober living homes. Mr. Wesley informed
him that the Town does not have the authority to shut them down and referred
him to the state agency. He said that when he called the state, he found out
there is only one person working down there and they would look it to it. That
conversation took place on February 1 st. He said he supports what
Representative Kavanaugh said about pushing the envelope. The citizens have
as many rights as do the disabled. We are equal. It is about equality.
Crystal Kavanaugh, Fountain Hills resident, said that she supports the
Commission for trying to provide the residents with protective ordinances,
specifically outlining requirements for these group homes slash home based
businesses within the residential neighborhoods, including businesses. She
said that the state is the entity providing the oversight and monitoring of these
licensed sober living homes, but this is an illusion. When she called the
Arizona Department of Health Services, she found out that the state has no
regular monitoring of the homes other than a yearly visit, and clearly not
enough staff assigned to achieve this. There is one man, Wesley Sisson, who
is solely responsible for overseeing the ever-growing sober living industry
located within our residential neighborhoods. One man for all of Arizona. These
yearly visits are actually scheduled in advance. They're not even spontaneous.
The homes know precisely when the state is coming, how difficult is it to be in
compliance for one day when the homes are given you a heads-up. The sober
living licensing stipulates these homes must not provide the clients with any
onsite medical or clinical services or medication administration. The state
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 14 of 18
determines that a current medication list for a recovery client is on file, but they
don't actually monitor which medications are being provided and where this
even occurs. Currently, there are no local oversight of these sober living
homes. Where is the accountability for the clients, the neighbors and the
community? Local code enforcement is limited with whether they have obtained
their $50 business license and the clustering of homes. And of course, we're
always threatened with interference or discrimination towards the protective
group even when it's not the case. This is an unacceptable level of monitoring
that our community is told to depend on and we desperately need to be allowed
some level of oversight at the local level, in addition to modifications of state
regulations for the benefit of all involved, as Representative John Cavanaugh
indicated, a small group of us have been addressing concerns with him and
others from the state. Hopefully some resolution can occur and the ordinances
put forth from tonight are the strongest possible to be used as a valuable tool
towards achieving some level of equitable accountability.
Liz Gildersleeve, Fountain Hills resident, thanked the Commission for leading
the issue of stronger ordinances in our Town for sober homes and
detoxification facilities. Stronger ordinances and regulations will only benefit
homeowners and the neighborhoods. From the Town's current lack of strong
ordinances and minimal oversight, these recovery businesses have been
working overtime the last few months to paint themselves as saintly victims
whose only desire is to help people with drug and alcohol addictions. To the
Fountain Hills residents in this room, there is no shame in asking your Town
officials to better regulate and oversee the sober homes in your neighborhoods
and be proactive about violations. Continue to speak up, ask questions,
demand action and accountability. No one moved to Fountain Hills to be
surrounded by sober homes. She said she thoroughly enjoyed hearing the
discussion tonight and is hopeful that the Town staff will work with the
Commission to finally put pen to paper and create fearless, bold, detailed
oriented ordinances that will benefit the Town.
Steve Baggio, Fountain Hills resident, said that Fountain Hills does not need
any more sober homes in a Town with a population of 24,000 and with a large
population of seasonal residents. Regulations and zoning restrictions need to
be in place so that our neighborhoods can become more family orientated and
not filled with the sober homes in short term vacation rentals in every block.
There is a problem with people and families trying to find homes for sale in this
town as is and do not need to add to this problem. Many of us left big cities and
big city problems to live in Fountain Hills. If the town allows more sober homes,
Fountain Hills will lose its charm and small town feel that we all adore. Let us
work together to make Fountain Hills the great Town it should be, and not to let
it turn into decay and a half empty urban wasteland of a town that motorists hit
the gas pedal when they approach. He asked the Commission to do what's in
best the interest of saving our neighborhoods and not lining the pockets of
business operators that live nowhere close to Fountain Hills.
Chairman Gray thanked the speakers and the public for attending the meeting.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 15 of 18
Mr. Paladini noted the Town can preclude or prohibit level 2 and 3 sex
offenders from residing in any of the homes.
Chairman Gray said he is in agreement with the following: clarification of the
definitions, number of occupants, family cap at four occupants, the group home
cap at eight occupants. He said he would like to see the transitional home cap
at six occupants. He said the1200 feet separation is essential because of the
Town topography. The addition of the prohibition of level 2 and 3 sex
offenders.
Commissioner Watts agreed with Chairman Gray but suggested that six
occupants should include the manager.
Commissioner Kovacevic suggested that the categories be clearly stated in the
ordinance. He suggested three categories: less than 30 days stay in a more
restricted zoning class, 30-to-365-day stay would fall under multi-family and
greater than 365 days would fall under single family zoning district. He agreed
that the manager should count as one of the six occupants.
In response to Commissioner Dempster, Mr. Wesley said that the definition
“Community Residence” term is used throughout the industry. Although the
definition says “self-governing” the ordinance can be written to include staff in
the total number of occupants.
Chairman Gray asked that the Town’s legal department look into the definition
of the 7 to 14 days stay range which seems to be the model in Fountain Hills
today. He asked if the proof of insurance information can be requested during
the application process.
Commissioner Watts noted that at a previous meeting a Commission
discussion decided that an additional insurer be named as a Fountain Hills
requirement.
Commissioner Dempster noted that the application needs revisions.
In response to Chairman Gray, Mr. Wesley confirmed that there is a two-week
notification requirement, to schedule an earlier meeting would be challenging.
In response to Commissioner Watts, Chairman Gray replied that a moratorium
cannot be placed on sober living homes.
Chairman Gray concluded the discussion by saying there is no motion or vote
to be made. He thanked the public, Staff and the Commission for their time.
7.COMMISSION DISCUSSION/REQUEST FOR RESEARCH to staff.
None.
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 16 of 18
8.SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS from Development Services Director.
None.
Mr. Wesley said he would be reviewing the Commissions input regarding the
group homes. He said that he will present the updates to the ordinance
regarding group homes at the next meeting scheduled on March 14, 2022.
9.REPORT from Development Services Director.
None.
10.ADJOURNMENT
The Regular Meeting of the Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission
held February 14, 2022, adjourned at 10:16 p.m.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
_______________________________
Chairman Peter Gray
ATTESTED AND PREPARED BY:
_________________________________
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
Regular Meeting held by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Fountain Hills in the Town Hall
Council Chambers on February 14, 2022. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and
that a quorum was present.
DATED this day of March 7, 2022.
______________________________
Paula Woodward, Executive Assistant
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 17 of 18
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting of February 14, 2022 18 of 18
ITEM 5.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 03/14/2022 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Staff Contact Information: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING,
CONSIDER AND POSSIBLE ACTION: regarding Ordinance 22-01, amending Chapters 1, 5, 10, and 11
of the Zoning Ordinance to provide the definitions of family and community residences, the regulations
for community residences, and the zoning districts where allowed.
Staff Summary (Background)
The Planning and Zoning Commission has been reviewing and discussing options for modifications to the
Town's ordinance requirements for group homes for several months. At the January 2022 meeting the
Commission heard from the public and then provided staff with direction as to language they would like
to see in a revised ordinance. Based on the input received, staff has drafted ordinance changes. The
ordinance for consideration and recommendation to the Council is attached.
Review of Proposed Ordinance Changes
Definitions
Staff is proposing the following modifications to the definitions provided in Chapter 1 of the Zoning
Ordinance:
Amend the definition of family to set the upper maximum number of unrelated individuals
residing together in a home at 4.
1.
Remove the existing definition of Group Home for the Handicapped and Elderly and replace it
with a new definition of Community Residence. This will include the subcategories of Family
Residences (for homes where typical residency is over one year) and Transitional Residences (for
homes where the typical residency is between 30 days and one year). In keeping with the
discussion from the January meeting, the proposed language limits programs that keep residents
for less than 30 days from being considered community residences and requires that the home be
used for residential purposes, not treatment. Staff will be proposing language as part of the
ordinance change addressing detox facilities and drug/alcohol treatment to cover places with a
shorter length of tenancy.
2.
Community Residence Regulations
Staff is proposing to add language into Section 5.13 of the Zoning Ordinance to provide a
comprehensive set of rules to govern this type of use. Those rules are:
A. Standards
1,200' minimum spacing between homes
Maximum 2 people per bedroom, transitional residence limited to 6 including staff (Note, staff
had recommended 8 not including staff)
Obtain Town business license, if applicable
B. Application requirements
Licensing requirement (State, Arizona Recovery Housing Association, Oxford House charter)
Property owner acknowledgement of use
Description of the scope of services to be provided
Cannot house individuals who would be a threat to community; register level 1 sex offenders
Copy of liability insurance. (Note, staff does not see any benefit, but does see some potential
problems with naming the Town as an additional insured.)
Copy of state or third party license or certification documents that provide:
Contact individuals
"Good Neighbor" policies
Efforts to promote safety of surrounding neighborhood
Floor plan designating bedrooms, living and dining areas.
C. Registration
Required; valid for 1 year
Inspection by Fire Marshal and Building Official; address deficiencies
Complete application based on requirements in B.
May issue provisional registration pending receipt of license/certificate; must be
received within 90 days or have 45 days to vacate property
Must re-register on an annual basis showing ongoing compliance
D. Process and requirements for waiver of reasonable accommodation.
Staff believes the provisions in the attached ordinance are consistent with the discussion and
direction provided at the last P & Z meeting. Further adjustments can be made as part of the
review and discussion at the meeting on March 14.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
Zoning Ordinance Section 1.12, Definitions
Zoning Ordinance Section 10.02 A Permitted Uses
Zoning Ordinance Section 11.02 Permitted Uses
Risk Analysis
There are a number legal constraints that impact our ability to regulate group home uses. It is
important that these legal parameters be considered in making any modifications to current language.
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff Recommendation(s)
The staff report for the February 14, 2022, meeting provided significant background on the areas where
regulations could be modified to better address this land use. The proposed ordinance is mostly in
keeping with that review and those recommendations. The one area of difference is the limitation on
the number of residents allowed in a transitional residence when located in a single-family zoning
district.
Staff supports approval of Ordinance 22-01.
SUGGESTED MOTION
MOVE to recommend approval of Ordinance 22-01.
Attachments
Ordinance 22-01
ORDINANCE NO. 22-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA, AMENDING THE
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS ZONING ORDINANCE,
CHAPTER 1, INTRODUCTION, SECTION 1.12,
DEFINITIONS, AMENDING THE DEFINITIONS OF FAMILY
AND GROUP HOME; AMENDING CHAPTER 5, GENERAL
PROVISIONS, SECTION 5.13, RESERVED, RENAMING
THE SECTION AND PROVIDING REGULATIONS FOR
GROUP HOMES; AMENDING CHAPTER 10, SINGLE-
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, SECTION
10.02 A. 12. GROUP HOMES FOR THE HANDICAPPED
AND ELDERLY CARE; AND, AMENDING CHAPTER 11,
SECTION 11.02 A. 11. GROUP HOMES FOR THE
HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY CARE
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of the Town of Fountain Hills (the “Town Council”)
adopted Ordinance No. 93-22 on November 18, 1993, which adopted the Zoning
Ordinance for the Town of Fountain Hills (the “Zoning Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to amend Chapter 1, Introduction, Section 1.12,
Definitions, amending the definitions of Family and Group Home; amending Chapter 5,
General Provisions, Section 5.13, Reserved, renaming the section and providing
regulations for group homes; amending Chapter 10, Single-family Residential Zoning
Districts, Section 10.02 A. 12. Group Homes for the Handicapped and Elderly Care; and,
amending Chapter 11, Section 11.02 A. 11. Group Homes for the Handicapped and Elderly
Care; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and pursuant to ARIZ. REV. STAT. §
9-462.04, public hearings regarding this ordinance were advertised in the February 23,
2022 and March 2, 2022 editions of the Fountain Hills Times; and
WHEREAS, public hearings were held by the Fountain Hills Planning & Zoning
Commission on March 14, 2022, and by the Town Council on April 5, 2022.
WHEREAS, in accordance with Article II, Sections 1 and 2, Constitution of Arizona, and
the laws of the State of Arizona, the Town Council has considered the individual property
rights and personal liberties of the residents of the Town and the probable impact of the
proposed ordinance on the cost to construct housing for sale or rent before adopting this
ordinance.
ENACTMENTS:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS as follows:
SECTION 1. The recitals above are hereby incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. The Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 1, Introduction, Section 1.12,
Definitions, is hereby amended as follows:
…
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE IS A RESIDENTIAL
LIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR FIVE TO TEN INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES, EXCLUDING STAFF, LIVING AS A FAMILY IN A SINGLE
DWELLING UNIT WHO ARE IN NEED OF THE MUTUAL SUPPORT
FURNISHED BY OTHER RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY RESIDENCE AS
WELL AS THE SUPPORT SERVICES, IF ANY, PROVIDED BY THE STAFF OF
THE COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. RESIDENTS MAY BE SELF-GOVERNING OR
SUPERVISED BY A SPONSORING ENTITY OR ITS STAFF, WHICH PROVIDES
HABILITATIVE OR REHABILITATIVE SERVICES RELATED TO THE
RESIDENTS' DISABILITIES. A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE SEEKS TO
EMULATE A BIOLOGICAL FAMILY TO FOSTER NORMALIZATION OF ITS
RESIDENTS AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE SHELTER IN A
FAMILY-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. MEDICAL TREATMENT IS INCIDENTAL AS IN
ANY HOME. SUPPORTIVE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESIDENTS
ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT. COMMUNITY RESIDENCE INCLUDES
SOBER LIVING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING HOMES BUT DOES NOT
INCLUDE ANY OTHER GROUP LIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR UNRELATED
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT DISABLED NOR ANY SHELTER, ROOMING
HOUSE, BOARDING HOUSE OR TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY.
FAMILY COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE THAT IS
A RELATIVELY PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT WITH NO LIMIT ON
THE LENGTH OF TENANCY AS DETERMINED IN PRACTICE OR BY THE
RULES, CHARTER, OR OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF TENANCY IS
TYPICALLY A YEAR OR LONGER.
TRANSITIONAL COMMUNITY RESIDENCE. A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE
THAT PROVIDES A RELATIVELY TEMPORARY LIVING ARRANGEMENT
WITH A LIMIT ON LENGTH OF TENANCY, TYPICALLY MORE THAN
THIRTY (30) DAYS AND LESS THAN A YEAR, AS DETERMINED EITHER
IN PRACTICE OR BY THE RULES, CHARTER, OR OTHER GOVERNING
DOCUMENT OF THE COMMUNITY RESIDENCE.
…
Family: An individual, or two (2) or more persons related by blood or marriage, or
a group of NOT MORE THAN FOUR (4) persons not related by blood or marriage,
living together as a single housekeeping group in a dwelling unit.
…
Group Home for the Handicapped and Adult Care: A dwelling shared by
handicapped and/or elderly people as their primary residence and their resident
staff, who live together as a single housekeeping unit, sharing responsibilities,
meals, and recreation. The staff provides care for the residents. A Group Home
for the Handicapped and Adult Care does not include nursing homes, alcohol or
other drug treatment centers, community correction facilities, shelter care facilities,
or homes for the developmentally disable as regulated by the Arizona Revised
Statutes Section 36-582.
…
SECTION 3. The Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 5, General Provisions, Section 5.13,
Reserved, is hereby amended as follows:
Section 5.13. ReservedCOMMUNITY RESIDENCES
(Deleted per Ordinance 2004-10 – Storage and Parking of Mobile Homes, Boats,
Aircraft, Truck Campers, Camping Trailers, Travel Trailers and Other Trailers is hereby
deleted in its entirety.) Refer to Chapter 7 – Section 7.02.Community residences are
allowed and may be registered as provided below.
A. Standards:
1. To prevent the clustering of community residences and to better integrate
community residence residents into the surrounding neighbor and community,
such home must be located on a lot that is at least one thousand two hundred
(1,200) feet from the exterior lot lines of another community residence,
measured by a straight line from the property line in any direction.
2. No more than two persons per bedroom up to the maximum allowed for the
type of home. For transitional community residences in single-family zoning
districts, the maximum number of residents is six (6) including any resident
staff.
3. Receives a Town business license, if applicable.
4. An individual required to register under Arizona law as a sex offender and
classified as a Level II or Level III community risk (intermediate to high risk) is
not permitted to live in a community residence.
B. Application requirements:
1. Copy of license or certified through one or more of the following groups
or agencies, or produces such license or registration within 90 days:
a. License or is certified by the State of Arizona Department of Health;
or
b. License or is certified by the Arizona Recovery Housing Association;
or,
c. “Permanent” Oxford House charter.
2. If the property is being rented or leased, an acknowledgement from the
property owner agreeing to the use of the property as a community
residence.
3. A description of the scope of services to be provided in the home and
whether or not the residents will be ambulatory.
4. A statement the home shall not house any person whose tenancy would
constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or
would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
5. A copy of liability insurance for the operation of the home at the given
address.
6. The portions of any state license or third party certification application
requirements that provide:
a. Names of contact individual(s) for the home who can respond to
complaints or emergencies.
b. Information regarding policies and procedures for residents and
visitors related to parking, noise emanating from the home, smoking,
cleanliness of the public space near the sober living home, and
loitering in front of the home or near-by homes are established,
known to residents, and enforced.
c. Information regarding efforts to promote the safety of the surrounding
neighborhood.
7. A floor plan of the home showing all bedrooms, living, and dining areas.
C. Registration:
1. Registration of a community residence with the Town is required prior to
beginning operation. An approved registration is valid for one year from
date administratively issued.
2. Following receipt of a complete application for registration, the property
will be inspected by the Building Official and Fire Marshal for compliance
with all life safety requirements. Any identified deficiencies must be
addressed and compliance verified through a follow up inspection before
the registration will be completed.
3. All required documents listed in B. will be reviewed. Any required
corrections or clarifications must be submitted to complete the
registration process.
4. When all registration requirements have been met, the Development
Services director will administratively complete the Town’s registration
process.
5. If all other requirements of this ordinance are met, the Development
Services Director may issue a provisional registration for up to 90 days
while the applicant applies for and receives their license or certificate as
required by B.1. If the license or certificate is not received by the Town
within 90 days, is not approved, or becomes revoked for any reason, the
community residence operator will have 45 days to vacate the property.
6. Reregistration. The community residence operator must register
annually by submitting a new application with any updated documents.
The registration can be renewed if the following are met:
a. The home has maintained a current license or certificate.
b. The home or operator has maintained a current Town business
license, if applicable.
c. Re-inspection of the property has verified ongoing compliance with
life safety standards.
d. The provider has complied with the policies and procedures
established in B. 6.
D. Waiver for Reasonable Accommodation. To establish a community residence
for more than 10 individuals with disabilities or to reduce the separation
requirement to less than 1,200’, the applicant may apply for a Waiver for
Reasonable Accommodation. Such request will be reviewed and acted upon
by the Development Services Director. ln all cases the Development Services
Director shall make findings of fact in support of the determinations and shall
render the decision in writing. The Development Services Director may meet
with and interview the applicant to ascertain or clarify information sufficiently to
make the required findings.
1. To grant a Waiver for Reasonable Accommodation, the Development
Services Director shall find affirmatively all of the following standards:
a. The applicant demonstrates that the proposed community residence
can and will emulate a biological family and function as a residential
use rather than an institutional or other nonresidential use.
b. The applicant demonstrates that the proposed community residence
needs to house more than 10 residents or reduce the separation for
financial or therapeutic reasons.
c. The applicant demonstrates that the proposed community residence
will not interfere with the normalization and community integration of
the residents of any existing community residence and that the
presence of other community residences will not interfere with the
normalization and community integration of the residents of the
proposed community residence
d. The applicant demonstrates that it will operate the home in a manner
similar to that ordinarily required by state licensing to protect the
health, safety, and welfare of the occupants of the proposed
community residence
e. The applicant demonstrates that the proposed community residence
in combination with any existing community residences will not alter
the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood by
creating an institutional atmosphere or by creating a de facto social
service district by concentrating community residences on a block or
in a neighborhood
2. A community residence operator may appeal denial of a Waiver for
Reasonable Accommodation by the Development Services Director
pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.07 A, Appeals to the
Board of Adjustment.
SECTION 4. The Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 10, Single-Family Residential
Districts, Section 10.02 A., Permitted Uses, is hereby amended as follows:
12. Group Homes for the Handicapped and Elderly Care; provided, that:
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE, SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5.13
a. No such home is located on a lot that is within one thousand – two hundred
(1,200) feet, measured by a straight line in any direction of the exterior lot lines of another
group home for the handicapped and elderly care.
b. No such home contains more than ten (10) residents.
c. Such home is licensed by the State of Arizona Department of Health.
d. Such home is registered with, and administratively approved by the Community
Development Director or designee, as to compliance with the standards of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. The Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 11, Multifamily Zoning Districts,
Section 11.02 A, Permitted Uses, is hereby amended as follows:
11. Group Homes for the Handicapped and Elderly Care; provided, that:
COMMUNITY RESIDENCE, SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 5.13
a. No such home is located on a lot within one thousand – two hundred (1,200)
feet, measured by a straight line in any direction, of the exterior lot lines of another group
home for the handicapped and elderly care.
b. No such home contains more than ten (10) residents.
c. Such home is licensed by the State of Arizona Department of Health Services.
d. Such home is registered with, and administratively approved by the Community
Development Director or designee, as to compliance with the standards of this Ordinance.
Section 6. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional by the decision of any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
of this Ordinance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Fountain Hills,
Arizona, this 5th day of April 2022.
FOR THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS: ATTESTED TO:
Ginny Dickey, Mayor Elizabeth A. Klein, Town Clerk
REVIEWED BY: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Grady E. Miller, Town Manager Aaron D. Arnson, Town Attorney
ITEM 6.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: 03/14/2022 Meeting Type: Planning and Zoning Commission
Agenda Type: Submitting Department: Development Services
Prepared by: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Staff Contact Information: John Wesley, Development Services Director
Request to Planning and Zoning Commission (Agenda Language): REVIEW AND
DISCUSS: possible Zoning Ordinance text amendments to address drug and alcohol treatment centers
and detoxification facilities.
Staff Summary (Background)
The Zoning Ordinance provides for a variety of different land uses and places those uses in different
zoning districts consistent with the nature of the use and the intent of the various districts. Chapter 12
of the Zoning Ordinance establishes the commercial zoning districts and the uses allowed in each
district. In addition to uses permitted by right in each district, the ordinance also establishes uses which
can be approved through a Special Use Permit process.
Toward the end of 2020, staff received inquires regarding the possibility of establishing a detoxification
facility in Town. Detoxification facilities are places people can go for assistance to withdraw from drugs
and/or alcohol. These facilities can range from sub-acute, outpatient facilities to more intense,
inpatient facilities. These facilities can operate in a variety of ways. In some cases the patients are
self-motivated to end their addiction and have the time and means to seek treatment. In other cases
the patient may be ordered to go through treatment, starting with the detoxification, or they may not
be as personally motivated to seek assistance. Sometimes their addiction is not as severe and the
withdrawal process is not significant. In other cases the addiction and resulting withdrawal process can
be significant and require constant medical supervision.
Staff brought this issue up with the Town Council at their annual retreat in February, 2021. The Council
asked staff to explore and make a recommendation on how this use could be incorporated into the
Zoning Ordinance. When staff followed up with a draft ordinance, the Planning and Zoning Commission
was addressing the issue of hospitals and possible amendments to allow that use. Given the public
concern about detoxification facilities and possible confusion with what was being considered for
hospitals, the Commission voted on April 12, 2021, against the draft ordinance and work on that issue
was halted.
Following the adoption of a new ordinance addressing hospitals, and with ongoing concern in Town
regarding the possibility of detoxification facilities and statements from the Town Attorney that we
could not prohibit the use, the Planning and Zoning Commission determined we should move ahead and
could not prohibit the use, the Planning and Zoning Commission determined we should move ahead and
consider how to address this land use. A companion issue of group homes and sober living homes was
also identified and is being addressed.
Through the discussion of detox facilities and group homes, another related issue of treatment centers
was identified. Treatment centers address the early process of recovery from an addiction and provides
the patient with the beginning skills to overcome their addiction. Treatment centers may or may not
assist with withdrawal (similar to a detoxification facility) and may have a residential component similar
to a sober living home. Therefore, this use can overlap the other two which creates some challenges
with regulation. This report also covers this land use and how it might be incorporated into the zoning
ordinance.
In this report, staff is responding to the comments and issues raised by the Commission and public and
putting forth some options for how to address these topics. Based on the feedback received, staff will
draft an ordinance for consideration at a future P&Z Commission meeting, potentially in April.
When considering the placement of new uses into the zoning ordinance, it is helpful to know the
intended use of each district and to review how some existing uses are placed. Following are the
descriptions for the three primary zoning districts where these uses could be considered:
C-1. Neighborhood Commercial and Professional Zoning District: The Neighborhood Commercial
and Professional District is established to provide a location for modest, well-designed
commercial enterprises to serve a surrounding residential neighborhood, as well as to provide for
services to the community, which is not detrimental to the integrity of the surrounding residential
neighborhood, and to provide for the appropriate location of professional offices throughout the
community. The intent of this district is to integrate limited commercial activity and professional
offices with residential land uses in a climate favorable to both. Particular attention is to be paid
to the interface between commercial or professional uses and the residential uses within the
same neighborhood.
C-2. Intermediate Commercial Zoning District: The principal purpose of this Zoning District is to
provide for the sale of commodities and the performance of services and other activities in
locations for which the market area extends beyond the immediate residential neighborhoods.
Principal uses permitted in this Zoning District include furniture stores, hotels, motels,
restaurants, and some commercial recreation and cultural facilities such as movies and instruction
in art and music. This Zoning District is designed for application at major street intersections.
C-3. General Commercial Zoning District: The principal purpose of this Zoning District is to provide
for commercial uses concerned with wholesale or distribution activities in locations where there
is adequate access to major streets or highways. Principal uses permitted in this Zoning
District include retail and wholesale commerce and commercial entertainment.
Examples of existing uses allowed in commercial zoning districts include:
All Commercial Districts:
Dentist, Physicians, and other medical offices
Counselors
Medical and clinical laboratories
Pharmacies
Retail, restaurant, entertainment
Additional Uses allowed in C-2 and C-3:
Bars
Health spas and public gyms
Pool halls or billiard centers
Uses requiring a Special Use Permit in all Commercial Districts:
Group Homes
Single and multifamily dwellings
Uses requiring a Special Use Permit in C-2 or C-3
Convenience stores
Cabinet shops
Automobile fuel dispensing
Vehicle storage
Construction equipment sales, rentals
Temporary storage facilities
Detoxification
Staff was able to identify two levels of detoxification facilities. One is sub-acute/outpatient facilities. In
these facilities, the level of addiction is low enough that the resulting process of detoxification and
withdrawal does not pose significant medical issues or need constant supervision. With these facilities
the patients either live at home or in a group home and come to the facility on a regular basis for a
period of time to complete the withdrawal process. In many ways, these facilities will not be much
different from other medical office facilities. In review of these types of facilities, however, staff has
found examples where the clients spend time outside the facility waiting for treatment or for a ride.
This can have a negative impact on surrounding uses and neighborhoods. Given the purpose statements
for the various zoning district found in Section 12.01, and the existing medical uses allowed in the
various zoning districts, staff is suggesting this use be comparable to other uses in the C-2 and C-3
Districts. It may be possible for the ordinance to include some basic requirements along with the
allowance for the use such as requiring provision for indoor waiting, a "Good Neighbor" policy, and/or a
contact person in case of complaints.
The other level of detoxification facilities are termed acute/inpatient facilities. These facilities are used
by individuals with a more significant level of addiction that require medical supervision during the
detoxification process. By the nature of the facility and the service they provide, they need to be open
and operate 24/7. They may also experience emergency situations that could be disruptive to a
neighborhood or other surrounding uses. This use also is different from the traditional commercial,
office, and entertainment uses typically found in commercial zoning districts. Therefore, staff is
suggesting this use be allowed only through approval of a Special Use Permit in the C-2 and C-3 Zoning
District. The SUP application could also require the submittal of information to address any negative
impacts of the use.
Treatment Centers
When doing an Internet search on the government website FindTreatment.gov, one treatment facility is
listed in Fountain Hills, Fountain Hills Recovery, and another 8 are listed within 10 miles, all in
Scottsdale. Attached is a document from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that provides
information on drug treatment programs. In summary, there are a lot of different types of treatment
programs. Some include a residential component where treatment and housing is at the same place.
Some treatment programs do not provide any housing option, just medication, counseling, and
education at their offices. Others have a hybrid approach that provides housing for a person going
through treatment with the treatment taking place away from the home. Some programs include using
medications (e.g. buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) to help in the detoxification/recovery
process. Many include individual and/or group counseling and education. The rate of "success"
depends a lot on the program and the motivation of the individual.
Treatment centers can be either inpatient and outpatient. With inpatient treatment centers the person
resides at the treatment center where the treatment takes place. Generally, they are confined to the
facility with little to no outside contact during the early stages of treatment. These treatment programs
are most often 28-day programs, but can be longer. This is considered a medical, treatment program
and is not a residential land use. While these programs can be relatively quiet and controlled, they are
subject to all hours of activity. The semi-residential nature of these treatment facilities, they are
somewhat more similar with other uses that require approval of a Special Use Permit in the C-2 and C-3
zoning districts.
Outpatient treatment programs usually involve clients coming to the facility on a regular basis.
Depending on the client and the program, it can be every day, all day, or it can be a few days a week for
a few hours at a time. Outpatient programs can resemble medical office land use impacts in many
ways. However, the history also shows they can be very similar to detoxification facilities where clients
are left to wait for treatments or rides and can be disruptive to surrounding businesses. Therefore, it
may be appropriate to address these uses in a similar manner and allow them only in C-2 and C-3 with
some development standards as listed above.
Related Ordinance, Policy or Guiding Principle
Zoning Ordinance Section 1.12. Definitions
Zoning Ordinance Chapter 12, Commercial Zoning Districts
Risk Analysis
N/A
Recommendation(s) by Board(s) or Commission(s)
N/A
Staff Recommendation(s)
Staff is looking for direction from the P&Z Commission regarding the areas that could be modified in the
zoning ordinance to address detoxification and treatment center land uses.
SUGGESTED MOTION
This will be a discussion item. While staff is looking for direction, no formal motions will be made.
Attachments
National Institute on Drug Addiction Report
Publications
Revised January 2018
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A
Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
Table of Contents
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)
Preface
Principles of Effective Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Drug Addiction Treatment in the United States
Evidence-Based Approaches to Drug Addiction Treatment
Acknowledgments
Resources
Page 1
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based
Guide (Third Edition)
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade,
proprietary, or company names appearing in this publication are used only because they are
considered essential in the context of the studies described.
Preface
Drug addiction is a complex illness.
It is characterized by intense and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug
seeking and use that persist even in the face of devastating consequences. This update of the
National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment is intended to address
addiction to a wide variety of drugs, including nicotine, alcohol, and illicit and prescription drugs. It is
designed to serve as a resource for healthcare providers, family members, and other stakeholders
trying to address the myriad problems faced by patients in need of treatment for drug abuse or
addiction.
Addiction affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning
and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior. That is why addiction is a brain disease. Some
individuals are more vulnerable than others to becoming addicted, depending on the interplay
between genetic makeup, age of exposure to drugs, and other environmental influences. While a
person initially chooses to take drugs, over time the effects of prolonged exposure on brain
functioning compromise that ability to choose, and seeking and consuming the drug become
compulsive, often eluding a person’s self-control or willpower.
But addiction is more than just compulsive drug taking—it can also produce far-reaching health and
Page 2
social consequences. For example, drug abuse and addiction increase a person’s risk for a variety of
other mental and physical illnesses related to a drug-abusing lifestyle or the toxic effects of the drugs
themselves. Additionally, the dysfunctional behaviors that result from drug abuse can interfere with a
person’s normal functioning in the family, the workplace, and the broader community.
Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an
individual’s life, treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many
components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction
treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve
productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is a disease, most
people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Patients typically require long-
term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery
of their lives. Indeed, scientific research and clinical practice demonstrate the value of continuing care
in treating addiction, with a variety of approaches having been tested and integrated in residential and
community settings.
As we look toward the future, we will harness new research results on the influence of genetics and
environment on gene function and expression (i.e., epigenetics), which are heralding the development
of personalized treatment interventions. These findings will be integrated with current evidence
supporting the most effective drug abuse and addiction treatments and their implementation, which
are reflected in this guide.
Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Principles of Effective Treatment
1.Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. Drugs
of abuse alter the brain’s structure and function, resulting in changes that persist long after drug
use has ceased. This may explain why drug abusers are at risk for relapse even after long periods
of abstinence and despite the potentially devastating consequences.
Page 3
2.No single treatment is appropriate for everyone. Treatment varies depending on the type of
drug and the characteristics of the patients. Matching treatment settings, interventions, and
services to an individual’s particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in
returning to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and society.
3.Treatment needs to be readily available. Because drug-addicted individuals may be uncertain
about entering treatment, taking advantage of available services the moment people are ready for
treatment is critical. Potential patients can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or
readily accessible. As with other chronic diseases, the earlier treatment is offered in the disease
process, the greater the likelihood of positive outcomes.
4.Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug
abuse. To be effective, treatment must address the individual’s drug abuse and any associated
medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. It is also important that treatment be
appropriate to the individual’s age, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
5.Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical. The appropriate duration for
an individual depends on the type and degree of the patient’s problems and needs. Research
indicates that most addicted individuals need at least 3 months in treatment to significantly reduce
or stop their drug use and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment.
Recovery from drug addiction is a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of
treatment. As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug abuse can occur and should signal a
need for treatment to be reinstated or adjusted. Because individuals often leave treatment
prematurely, programs should include strategies to engage and keep patients in treatment.
6.Behavioral therapies—including individual, family, or group counseling—are the most
commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment. Behavioral therapies vary in their focus and
may involve addressing a patient’s motivation to change, providing incentives for abstinence,
building skills to resist drug use, replacing drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding
activities, improving problem-solving skills, and facilitating better interpersonal relationships. Also,
participation in group therapy and other peer support programs during and following treatment can
help maintain abstinence.
7.Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when
combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies. For example, methadone,
buprenorphine, and naltrexone (including a new long-acting formulation) are effective in helping
individuals addicted to heroin or other opioids stabilize their lives and reduce their illicit drug use.
Acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone are medications approved for treating alcohol
dependence. For persons addicted to nicotine, a nicotine replacement product (available as
patches, gum, lozenges, or nasal spray) or an oral medication (such as bupropion or varenicline)
Page 4
can be an effective component of treatment when part of a comprehensive behavioral treatment
program.
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. A patient may require varying
combinations of services and treatment components during the course of treatment and recovery.
In addition to counseling or psychotherapy, a patient may require medication, medical services,
family therapy, parenting instruction, vocational rehabilitation, and/or social and legal services. For
many patients, a continuing care approach provides the best results, with the treatment intensity
varying according to a person’s changing needs.
9.Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders. Because drug abuse and
addiction—both of which are mental disorders—often co-occur with other mental illnesses, patients
presenting with one condition should be assessed for the other(s). And when these problems co-
occur, treatment should address both (or all), including the use of medications as appropriate.
10.Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself
does little to change long-term drug abuse. Although medically assisted detoxification can
safely manage the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal and can, for some, pave the way for
effective long-term addiction treatment, detoxification alone is rarely sufficient to help addicted
individuals achieve long-term abstinence. Thus, patients should be encouraged to continue drug
treatment following detoxification. Motivational enhancement and incentive strategies, begun at
initial patient intake, can improve treatment engagement.
11.Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective. Sanctions or enticements from
family, employment settings, and/or the criminal justice system can significantly increase treatment
entry, retention rates, and the ultimate success of drug treatment interventions.
12.Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do
occur. Knowing their drug use is being monitored can be a powerful incentive for patients and can
help them withstand urges to use drugs. Monitoring also provides an early indication of a return to
drug use, signaling a possible need to adjust an individual’s treatment plan to better meet his or
her needs.
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. Typically, drug abuse treatment
addresses some of the drug-related behaviors that put people at risk of infectious diseases.
Targeted counseling focused on reducing infectious disease risk can help patients further reduce
or avoid substance-related and other high-risk behaviors. Counseling can also help those who are
already infected to manage their illness. Moreover, engaging in substance abuse treatment can
Page 5
facilitate adherence to other medical treatments. Substance abuse treatment facilities should
provide onsite, rapid HIV testing rather than referrals to offsite testing—research shows that doing
so increases the likelihood that patients will be tested and receive their test results. Treatment
providers should also inform patients that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has proven
effective in combating HIV, including among drug-abusing populations, and help link them to HIV
treatment if they test positive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Treatment varies depending on the type of drug and the characteristics of
the patient. The best programs provide a combination of therapies and
other services.
Why do drug-addicted persons keep using drugs?
Nearly all addicted individuals believe at the outset that they can stop using drugs on their own, and
most try to stop without treatment. Although some people are successful, many attempts result in
failure to achieve long-term abstinence. Research has shown that long-term drug abuse results in
changes in the brain that persist long after a person stops using drugs. These drug-induced changes
in brain function can have many behavioral consequences, including an inability to exert control over
the impulse to use drugs despite adverse consequences—the defining characteristic of addiction.
Long-term drug use results in significant changes in brain function that can
persist long after the individual stops using drugs.
Understanding that addiction has such a fundamental biological component may help explain the
difficulty of achieving and maintaining abstinence without treatment. Psychological stress from work,
family problems, psychiatric illness, pain associated with medical problems, social cues (such as
Page 6
meeting individuals from one’s drug-using past), or environmental cues (such as encountering streets,
objects, or even smells associated with drug abuse) can trigger intense cravings without the individual
even being consciously aware of the triggering event. Any one of these factors can hinder attainment
of sustained abstinence and make relapse more likely. Nevertheless, research indicates that active
participation in treatment is an essential component for good outcomes and can benefit even the most
severely addicted individuals.
What is drug addiction treatment?
Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use.
Treatment can occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for different lengths of
time. Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a
short-term, one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process
that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring.
There are a variety of evidence-based approaches to treating addiction. Drug treatment can include
behavioral therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or contingency management), medications,
or their combination. The specific type of treatment or combination of treatments will vary depending
on the patient’s individual needs and, often, on the types of drugs they use.
Treatment medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone (including a new long-
acting formulation), are available for individuals addicted to opioids, while nicotine preparations
(patches, gum, lozenges, and nasal spray) and the medications varenicline and bupropion are
available for individuals addicted to tobacco. Disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone
are medications available for treating alcohol dependence,1 which commonly co-occurs with other
Page 7
drug addictions, including addiction to prescription medications.
Drug addiction treatment can include medications, behavioral therapies, or
their combination.
Treatments for prescription drug abuse tend to be similar to those for illicit drugs that affect the same
brain systems. For example, buprenorphine, used to treat heroin addiction, can also be used to treat
addiction to opioid pain medications. Addiction to prescription stimulants, which affect the same brain
systems as illicit stimulants like cocaine, can be treated with behavioral therapies, as there are not yet
medications for treating addiction to these types of drugs.
Behavioral therapies can help motivate people to participate in drug treatment, offer strategies for
coping with drug cravings, teach ways to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and help individuals deal
with relapse if it occurs. Behavioral therapies can also help people improve communication,
relationship, and parenting skills, as well as family dynamics.
Many treatment programs employ both individual and group therapies. Group therapy can provide
social reinforcement and help enforce behavioral contingencies that promote abstinence and a non-
drug-using lifestyle. Some of the more established behavioral treatments, such as contingency
management and cognitive-behavioral therapy, are also being adapted for group settings to improve
efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, particularly in adolescents, there can also be a danger of
unintended harmful (or iatrogenic) effects of group treatment—sometimes group members (especially
groups of highly delinquent youth) can reinforce drug use and thereby derail the purpose of the
therapy. Thus, trained counselors should be aware of and monitor for such effects.
Because they work on different aspects of addiction, combinations of behavioral therapies and
medications (when available) generally appear to be more effective than either approach used alone.
Finally, people who are addicted to drugs often suffer from other health (e.g., depression, HIV),
occupational, legal, familial, and social problems that should be addressed concurrently. The best
programs provide a combination of therapies and other services to meet an individual patient’s needs.
Psychoactive medications, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, mood stabilizers, and
Page 8
antipsychotic medications, may be critical for treatment success when patients have co-occurring
mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder),
bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. In addition, most people with severe addiction abuse multiple drugs
and require treatment for all substances abused.
Treatment for drug abuse and addiction is delivered in many different
settings using a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches.
Another drug, topiramate, has also shown promise in studies and is sometimes prescribed (off-label)
for this purpose although it has not received FDA approval as a treatment for alcohol dependence.
1
How effective is drug addiction treatment?
In addition to stopping drug abuse, the goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning
in the family, workplace, and community. According to research that tracks individuals in treatment
over extended periods, most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs, decrease
their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning. For
example, methadone treatment has been shown to increase participation in behavioral therapy and
decrease both drug use and criminal behavior. However, individual treatment outcomes depend on
the extent and nature of the patient’s problems, the appropriateness of treatment and related services
used to address those problems, and the quality of interaction between the patient and his or her
treatment providers.
Relapse rates for addiction resemble those of other chronic diseases such
as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
Like other chronic diseases, addiction can be managed successfully. Treatment enables people to
counteract addiction’s powerful disruptive effects on the brain and behavior and to regain control of
Page 9
their lives. The chronic nature of the disease means that relapsing to drug abuse is not only possible
but also likely, with symptom recurrence rates similar to those for other well-characterized chronic
medical illnesses—such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma (see figure, "Comparison of Relapse
Rates Between Drug Addiction and Other Chronic Illnesses”)—that also have both physiological and
behavioral components.
Unfortunately, when relapse occurs many deem treatment a failure. This is not the case: Successful
treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar
to the approach taken for other chronic diseases. For example, when a patient is receiving active
treatment for hypertension and symptoms decrease, treatment is deemed successful, even though
symptoms may recur when treatment is discontinued. For the addicted individual, lapses to drug
abuse do not indicate failure—rather, they signify that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted, or
that alternate treatment is needed (see figure, "Why is Addiction Treatment Evaluated Differently?").
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Is drug addiction treatment worth its cost?
Substance abuse costs our Nation over $600 billion annually and treatment can help reduce these
costs. Drug addiction treatment has been shown to reduce associated health and social costs by far
more than the cost of the treatment itself. Treatment is also much less expensive than its alternatives,
such as incarcerating addicted persons. For example, the average cost for 1 full year of methadone
maintenance treatment is approximately $4,700 per patient, whereas 1 full year of imprisonment costs
approximately $24,000 per person.
Drug addiction treatment reduces drug use and its associated health and
social costs.
According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs
yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft.
When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1.
Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater
workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths.
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How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
Individuals progress through drug addiction treatment at various rates, so there is no predetermined
length of treatment. However, research has shown unequivocally that good outcomes are contingent
on adequate treatment length. Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less
than 90 days is of limited effectiveness, and treatment lasting significantly longer is recommended for
maintaining positive outcomes. For methadone maintenance, 12 months is considered the minimum,
and some opioid-addicted individuals continue to benefit from methadone maintenance for many
years.
Good outcomes are contingent on adequate treatment length.
Treatment dropout is one of the major problems encountered by treatment programs; therefore,
motivational techniques that can keep patients engaged will also improve outcomes. By viewing
addiction as a chronic disease and offering continuing care and monitoring, programs can succeed,
but this will often require multiple episodes of treatment and readily readmitting patients that have
relapsed.
What helps people stay in treatment?
Because successful outcomes often depend on a person’s staying in treatment long enough to reap
its full benefits, strategies for keeping people in treatment are critical. Whether a patient stays in
treatment depends on factors associated with both the individual and the program. Individual factors
related to engagement and retention typically include motivation to change drug-using behavior;
degree of support from family and friends; and, frequently, pressure from the criminal justice system,
child protection services, employers, or family. Within a treatment program, successful clinicians can
establish a positive, therapeutic relationship with their patients. The clinician should ensure that a
treatment plan is developed cooperatively with the person seeking treatment, that the plan is followed,
and that treatment expectations are clearly understood. Medical, psychiatric, and social services
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should also be available.
Whether a patient stays in treatment depends on factors associated with
both the individual and the program.
Because some problems (such as serious medical or mental illness or criminal involvement) increase
the likelihood of patients dropping out of treatment, intensive interventions may be required to retain
them. After a course of intensive treatment, the provider should ensure a transition to less intensive
continuing care to support and monitor individuals in their ongoing recovery.
How do we get more substance-abusing people into
treatment?
It has been known for many years that the "treatment gap” is massive—that is, among those who
need treatment for a substance use disorder, few receive it. In 2011, 21.6 million persons aged 12 or
older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, but only 2.3 million received
treatment at a specialty substance abuse facility.
Reducing this gap requires a multipronged approach. Strategies include increasing access to effective
treatment, achieving insurance parity (now in its earliest phase of implementation), reducing stigma,
and raising awareness among both patients and healthcare professionals of the value of addiction
treatment. To assist physicians in identifying treatment need in their patients and making appropriate
referrals, NIDA is encouraging widespread use of screening, brief intervention, and referral to
treatment (SBIRT) tools for use in primary care settings through its NIDAMED initiative. SBIRT, which
evidence shows to be effective against tobacco and alcohol use—and, increasingly, against abuse of
illicit and prescription drugs—has the potential not only to catch people before serious drug problems
develop, but also to identify people in need of treatment and connect them with appropriate treatment
providers.
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How can family and friends make a difference in the life of
someone needing treatment?
Family and friends can play critical roles in motivating individuals with drug problems to enter and stay
in treatment. Family therapy can also be important, especially for adolescents. Involvement of a family
member or significant other in an individual's treatment program can strengthen and extend treatment
benefits.
Where can family members go for information on treatment
options?
Trying to locate appropriate treatment for a loved one, especially finding a program tailored to an
individual's particular needs, can be a difficult process. However, there are some resources to help
with this process. For example, NIDA’s handbook Seeking Drug Abuse Treatment: Know What to Ask
offers guidance in finding the right treatment program. Numerous online resources can help locate a
local program or provide other information, including:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains a Web site
(findtreatment.gov) that shows the location of residential, outpatient, and hospital inpatient
treatment programs for drug addiction and alcoholism throughout the country. This information is
also accessible by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) offers more than just suicide
prevention—it can also help with a host of issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, and can
connect individuals with a nearby professional.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) and Mental Health America (
www.mentalhealthamerica.net) are alliances of nonprofit, self-help support organizations for
patients and families dealing with a variety of mental disorders. Both have State and local affiliates
throughout the country and may be especially helpful for patients with comorbid conditions.
The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry each have physician locator tools posted on their Web sites at aaap.org and
aacap.org, respectively.
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Faces & Voices of Recovery (facesandvoicesofrecovery.org), founded in 2001, is an advocacy
organization for individuals in long-term recovery that strategizes on ways to reach out to the
medical, public health, criminal justice, and other communities to promote and celebrate recovery
from addiction to alcohol and other drugs.
The Partnership at Drugfree.org (drugfree.org) is an organization that provides information and
resources on teen drug use and addiction for parents, to help them prevent and intervene in their
children’s drug use or find treatment for a child who needs it. They offer a toll-free helpline for
parents (1-855-378-4373).
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (asam.org) is a society of physicians aimed at
increasing access to addiction treatment. Their Web site has a nationwide directory of addiction
medicine professionals.
NIDA’s National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (drugabuse.gov/about-
nida/organization/cctn/ctn) provides information for those interested in participating in a clinical trial
testing a promising substance abuse intervention; or visit clinicaltrials.gov.
NIDA’s DrugPubs Research Dissemination Center (drugpubs.drugabuse.gov) provides booklets,
pamphlets, fact sheets, and other informational resources on drugs, drug abuse, and treatment.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (niaaa.nih.gov) provides information on
alcohol, alcohol use, and treatment of alcohol-related problems (
niaaa.nih.gov/search/node/treatment).
How can the workplace play a role in substance abuse
treatment?
Many workplaces sponsor Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that offer short-term counseling
and/or assistance in linking employees with drug or alcohol problems to local treatment resources,
including peer support/recovery groups. In addition, therapeutic work environments that provide
employment for drug-abusing individuals who can demonstrate abstinence have been shown not only
to promote a continued drug-free lifestyle but also to improve job skills, punctuality, and other
behaviors necessary for active employment throughout life. Urine testing facilities, trained personnel,
and workplace monitors are needed to implement this type of treatment.
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What role can the criminal justice system play in addressing
drug addiction?
It is estimated that about one-half of State and Federal prisoners abuse or are addicted to drugs, but
relatively few receive treatment while incarcerated. Initiating drug abuse treatment in prison and
continuing it upon release is vital to both individual recovery and to public health and safety. Various
studies have shown that combining prison- and community-based treatment for addicted offenders
reduces the risk of both recidivism to drug-related criminal behavior and relapse to drug use—which,
in turn, nets huge savings in societal costs. A 2009 study in Baltimore, Maryland, for example, found
that opioid-addicted prisoners who started methadone treatment (along with counseling) in prison and
then continued it after release had better outcomes (reduced drug use and criminal activity) than
those who only received counseling while in prison or those who only started methadone treatment
after their release.
Individuals who enter treatment under legal pressure have outcomes as favorable as those who
enter treatment voluntarily.
The majority of offenders involved with the criminal justice system are not in prison but are under
community supervision. For those with known drug problems, drug addiction treatment may be
recommended or mandated as a condition of probation. Research has demonstrated that individuals
who enter treatment under legal pressure have outcomes as favorable as those who enter treatment
voluntarily.
The criminal justice system refers drug offenders into treatment through a variety of mechanisms,
such as diverting nonviolent offenders to treatment; stipulating treatment as a condition of
incarceration, probation, or pretrial release; and convening specialized courts, or drug courts, that
handle drug offense cases. These courts mandate and arrange for treatment as an alternative to
incarceration, actively monitor progress in treatment, and arrange for other services for drug-involved
offenders.
The most effective models integrate criminal justice and drug treatment systems and services.
Treatment and criminal justice personnel work together on treatment planning—including
implementation of screening, placement, testing, monitoring, and supervision—as well as on the
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systematic use of sanctions and rewards. Treatment for incarcerated drug abusers should include
continuing care, monitoring, and supervision after incarceration and during parole. Methods to
achieve better coordination between parole/probation officers and health providers are being studied
to improve offender outcomes. (For more information, please see NIDA’s Principles of Drug Abuse
Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide [revised 2012].)
What are the unique needs of women with substance use
disorders?
Gender-related drug abuse treatment should attend not only to biological differences but also to social
and environmental factors, all of which can influence the motivations for drug use, the reasons for
seeking treatment, the types of environments where treatment is obtained, the treatments that are
most effective, and the consequences of not receiving treatment. Many life circumstances
predominate in women as a group, which may require a specialized treatment approach. For
example, research has shown that physical and sexual trauma followed by post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) is more common in drug-abusing women than in men seeking treatment. Other
factors unique to women that can influence the treatment process include issues around how they
come into treatment (as women are more likely than men to seek the assistance of a general or
mental health practitioner), financial independence, and pregnancy and child care.
What are the unique needs of pregnant women with
substance use disorders?
Using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco during pregnancy exposes not just the woman but also her
developing fetus to the substance and can have potentially deleterious and even long-term effects on
exposed children. Smoking during pregnancy can increase risk of stillbirth, infant mortality, sudden
infant death syndrome, preterm birth, respiratory problems, slowed fetal growth, and low birth weight.
Drinking during pregnancy can lead to the child developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders,
Page 17
characterized by low birth weight and enduring cognitive and behavioral problems.
Prenatal use of some drugs, including opioids, may cause a withdrawal syndrome in newborns called
neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Babies with NAS are at greater risk of seizures, respiratory
problems, feeding difficulties, low birth weight, and even death.
Research has established the value of evidence-based treatments for pregnant women (and their
babies), including medications. For example, although no medications have been FDA-approved to
treat opioid dependence in pregnant women, methadone maintenance combined with prenatal care
and a comprehensive drug treatment program can improve many of the detrimental outcomes
associated with untreated heroin abuse. However, newborns exposed to methadone during
pregnancy still require treatment for withdrawal symptoms. Recently, another medication option for
opioid dependence, buprenorphine, has been shown to produce fewer NAS symptoms in babies than
methadone, resulting in shorter infant hospital stays. In general, it is important to closely monitor
women who are trying to quit drug use during pregnancy and to provide treatment as needed.
What are the unique needs of adolescents with substance use
disorders?
Adolescent drug abusers have unique needs stemming from their immature neurocognitive and
psychosocial stage of development. Research has demonstrated that the brain undergoes a
prolonged process of development and refinement from birth through early adulthood. Over the
course of this developmental period, a young person’s actions go from being more impulsive to being
more reasoned and reflective. In fact, the brain areas most closely associated with aspects of
behavior such as decision-making, judgment, planning, and self-control undergo a period of rapid
development during adolescence and young adulthood.
Adolescent drug abuse is also often associated with other co-occurring mental health problems.
These include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder, and
conduct problems, as well as depressive and anxiety disorders.
Adolescents are also especially sensitive to social cues, with peer groups and families being highly
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influential during this time. Therefore, treatments that facilitate positive parental involvement, integrate
other systems in which the adolescent participates (such as school and athletics), and recognize the
importance of prosocial peer relationships are among the most effective. Access to comprehensive
assessment, treatment, case management, and family-support services that are developmentally,
culturally, and gender-appropriate is also integral when addressing adolescent addiction.
Medications for substance abuse among adolescents may in certain cases be helpful. Currently, the
only addiction medications approved by FDA for people under 18 are over-the-counter transdermal
nicotine skin patches, chewing gum, and lozenges (physician advice should be sought first).
Buprenorphine, a medication for treating opioid addiction that must be prescribed by specially trained
physicians, has not been approved for adolescents, but recent research suggests it could be effective
for those as young as 16. Studies are under way to determine the safety and efficacy of this and other
medications for opioid-, nicotine-, and alcohol-dependent adolescents and for adolescents with co-
occurring disorders.
Are there specific drug addiction treatments for older adults?
With the aging of the baby boomer generation, the composition of the general population is changing
dramatically with respect to the number of older adults. Such a change, coupled with a greater history
of lifetime drug use (than previous older generations), different cultural norms and general attitudes
about drug use, and increases in the availability of psychotherapeutic medications, is already leading
to greater drug use by older adults and may increase substance use problems in this population.
While substance abuse in older adults often goes unrecognized and therefore untreated, research
indicates that currently available addiction treatment programs can be as effective for them as for
younger adults.
Can a person become addicted to medications prescribed by
a doctor?
Yes. People who abuse prescription drugs—that is, taking them in a manner or a dose other than
prescribed, or taking medications prescribed for another person—risk addiction and other serious
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health consequences. Such drugs include opioid pain relievers, stimulants used to treat ADHD, and
benzodiazepines to treat anxiety or sleep disorders. Indeed, in 2010, an estimated 2.4 million people
12 or older met criteria for abuse of or dependence on prescription drugs, the second most common
illicit drug use after marijuana. To minimize these risks, a physician (or other prescribing health
provider) should screen patients for prior or current substance abuse problems and assess their
family history of substance abuse or addiction before prescribing a psychoactive medication and
monitor patients who are prescribed such drugs. Physicians also need to educate patients about the
potential risks so that they will follow their physician’s instructions faithfully, safeguard their
medications, and dispose of them appropriately.
Is there a difference between physical dependence and
addiction?
Yes. Addiction—or compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences—is characterized by an
inability to stop using a drug; failure to meet work, social, or family obligations; and, sometimes
(depending on the drug), tolerance and withdrawal. The latter reflect physical dependence in which
the body adapts to the drug, requiring more of it to achieve a certain effect (tolerance) and eliciting
drug-specific physical or mental symptoms if drug use is abruptly ceased (withdrawal). Physical
dependence can happen with the chronic use of many drugs—including many prescription drugs,
even if taken as instructed. Thus, physical dependence in and of itself does not constitute addiction,
but it often accompanies addiction. This distinction can be difficult to discern, particularly with
prescribed pain medications, for which the need for increasing dosages can represent tolerance or a
worsening underlying problem, as opposed to the beginning of abuse or addiction.
How do other mental disorders coexisting with drug
addiction affect drug addiction treatment?
Drug addiction is a disease of the brain that frequently occurs with other mental disorders. In fact, as
many as 6 in 10 people with an illicit substance use disorder also suffer from another mental illness;
and rates are similar for users of licit drugs—i.e., tobacco and alcohol. For these individuals, one
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condition becomes more difficult to treat successfully as an additional condition is intertwined. Thus,
people entering treatment either for a substance use disorder or for another mental disorder should
be assessed for the co-occurrence of the other condition. Research indicates that treating both (or
multiple) illnesses simultaneously in an integrated fashion is generally the best treatment approach for
these patients.
Is the use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine
simply replacing one addiction with another?
No. Buprenorphine and methadone are prescribed or administered under monitored, controlled
conditions and are safe and effective for treating opioid addiction when used as directed. They are
administered orally or sublingually (i.e., under the tongue) in specified doses, and their effects differ
from those of heroin and other abused opioids.
Heroin, for example, is often injected, snorted, or smoked, causing an almost immediate "rush," or
brief period of intense euphoria, that wears off quickly and ends in a "crash." The individual then
experiences an intense craving to use the drug again to stop the crash and reinstate the euphoria.
The cycle of euphoria, crash, and craving—sometimes repeated several times a day—is a hallmark of
addiction and results in severe behavioral disruption. These characteristics result from heroin’s rapid
onset and short duration of action in the brain.
As used in maintenance treatment, methadone and buprenorphine are not
heroin/opioid substitutes.
In contrast, methadone and buprenorphine have gradual onsets of action and produce stable levels of
the drug in the brain. As a result, patients maintained on these medications do not experience a rush,
while they also markedly reduce their desire to use opioids.
If an individual treated with these medications tries to take an opioid such as heroin, the euphoric
effects are usually dampened or suppressed. Patients undergoing maintenance treatment do not
Page 21
experience the physiological or behavioral abnormalities from rapid fluctuations in drug levels
associated with heroin use. Maintenance treatments save lives—they help to stabilize individuals,
allowing treatment of their medical, psychological, and other problems so they can contribute
effectively as members of families and of society.
Where do 12-step or self-help programs fit into drug
addiction treatment?
Self-help groups can complement and extend the effects of professional treatment. The most
prominent self-help groups are those affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics
Anonymous (NA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA), all of which are based on the 12-step model. Most
drug addiction treatment programs encourage patients to participate in self-help group therapy during
and after formal treatment. These groups can be particularly helpful during recovery, offering an
added layer of community-level social support to help people achieve and maintain abstinence and
other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.
Can exercise play a role in the treatment process?
Yes. Exercise is increasingly becoming a component of many treatment programs and has proven
effective, when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy, at helping people quit smoking. Exercise
may exert beneficial effects by addressing psychosocial and physiological needs that nicotine
replacement alone does not, by reducing negative feelings and stress, and by helping prevent weight
gain following cessation. Research to determine if and how exercise programs can play a similar role
in the treatment of other forms of drug abuse is under way.
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How does drug addiction treatment help reduce the spread of
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C (HCV), and other infectious
diseases?
Drug-abusing individuals, including injecting and non-injecting drug users, are at increased risk of
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other infectious diseases. These
diseases are transmitted by sharing contaminated drug injection equipment and by engaging in risky
sexual behavior sometimes associated with drug use. Effective drug abuse treatment is HIV/HCV
prevention because it reduces activities that can spread disease, such as sharing injection equipment
and engaging in unprotected sexual activity. Counseling that targets a range of HIV/HCV risk
behaviors provides an added level of disease prevention.
Drug abuse treatment is HIV and HCV prevention.
Injection drug users who do not enter treatment are up to six times more likely to become infected
with HIV than those who enter and remain in treatment. Participation in treatment also presents
opportunities for HIV screening and referral to early HIV treatment. In fact, recent research from
NIDA’s National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network showed that providing rapid onsite HIV
testing in substance abuse treatment facilities increased patients’ likelihood of being tested and of
receiving their test results. HIV counseling and testing are key aspects of superior drug abuse
treatment programs and should be offered to all individuals entering treatment. Greater availability of
inexpensive and unobtrusive rapid HIV tests should increase access to these important aspects of
HIV prevention and treatment.
Drug Addiction Treatment in the United States
Page 23
Treatment for drug abuse and addiction is delivered in many different
settings, using a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches.
Drug addiction is a complex disorder that can involve virtually every aspect of an individual's
functioning—in the family, at work and school, and in the community.
Because of addiction's complexity and pervasive consequences, drug addiction treatment typically
must involve many components. Some of those components focus directly on the individual's drug
use; others, like employment training, focus on restoring the addicted individual to productive
membership in the family and society (See diagram "Components of Comprehensive Drug Abuse
Treatment"), enabling him or her to experience the rewards associated with abstinence.
Treatment for drug abuse and addiction is delivered in many different settings using a variety of
behavioral and pharmacological approaches. In the United States, more than 14,500 specialized drug
treatment facilities provide counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and other
types of services to persons with substance use disorders.
Along with specialized drug treatment facilities, drug abuse and addiction are treated in physicians'
offices and mental health clinics by a variety of providers, including counselors, physicians,
psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers. Treatment is delivered in outpatient,
inpatient, and residential settings. Although specific treatment approaches often are associated with
particular treatment settings, a variety of therapeutic interventions or services can be included in any
given setting.
Because drug abuse and addiction are major public health problems, a large portion of drug treatment
is funded by local, State, and Federal governments. Private and employer-subsidized health plans
also may provide coverage for treatment of addiction and its medical consequences. Unfortunately,
managed care has resulted in shorter average stays, while a historical lack of or insufficient coverage
for substance abuse treatment has curtailed the number of operational programs. The recent passage
of parity for insurance coverage of mental health and substance abuse problems will hopefully
improve this state of affairs. Health Care Reform (i.e., the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
of 2010, "ACA") also stands to increase the demand for drug abuse treatment services and presents
an opportunity to study how innovations in service delivery, organization, and financing can improve
Page 24
access to and use of them.
Types of Treatment Programs
Research studies on addiction treatment typically have classified programs into several general types
or modalities. Treatment approaches and individual programs continue to evolve and diversify, and
many programs today do not fit neatly into traditional drug adiction treatment classifications.
Most, however, start with detoxification and medically managed withdrawal, often considered the first
stage of treatment. Detoxification, the process by which the body clears itself of drugs, is designed to
manage the acute and potentially dangerous physiological effects of stopping drug use. As stated
previously, detoxification alone does not address the psychological, social, and behavioral problems
associated with addiction and therefore does not typically produce lasting behavioral changes
necessary for recovery. Detoxification should thus be followed by a formal assessment and referral to
drug addiction treatment.
Because it is often accompanied by unpleasant and potentially fatal side effects stemming from
withdrawal, detoxification is often managed with medications administered by a physician in an
inpatient or outpatient setting; therefore, it is referred to as "medically managed withdrawal.”
Medications are available to assist in the withdrawal from opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, nicotine,
barbiturates, and other sedatives.
Further Reading:
Kleber, H.D. Outpatient detoxification from opiates. Primary Psychiatry 1:42-52, 1996.
Long-Term Residential Treatment
Long-term residential treatment provides care 24 hours a day, generally in non-hospital settings. The
best-known residential treatment model is the therapeutic community (TC), with planned lengths of
stay of between 6 and 12 months. TCs focus on the "resocialization" of the individual and use the
program’s entire community—including other residents, staff, and the social context—as active
Page 25
components of treatment. Addiction is viewed in the context of an individual’s social and psychological
deficits, and treatment focuses on developing personal accountability and responsibility as well as
socially productive lives. Treatment is highly structured and can be confrontational at times, with
activities designed to help residents examine damaging beliefs, self-concepts, and destructive
patterns of behavior and adopt new, more harmonious and constructive ways to interact with others.
Many TCs offer comprehensive services, which can include employment training and other support
services, onsite. Research shows that TCs can be modified to treat individuals with special needs,
including adolescents, women, homeless individuals, people with severe mental disorders, and
individuals in the criminal justice system (see "Treating Criminal Justice-Involved Drug Abusers and
Addicted Individuals").
Further Reading:
Lewis, B.F.; McCusker, J.; Hindin, R.; Frost, R.; and Garfield, F. Four residential drug treatment
programs: Project IMPACT. In: J.A. Inciardi, F.M. Tims, and B.W. Fletcher (eds.), Innovative
Approaches in the Treatment of Drug Abuse, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, pp. 45-60, 1993.
Sacks, S.; Banks, S.; McKendrick, K.; and Sacks, J.Y. Modified therapeutic community for co-
occurring disorders: A summary of four studies. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 34(1):112-
122, 2008.
Sacks, S.; Sacks, J.; DeLeon, G.; Bernhardt, A.; and Staines, G. Modified therapeutic community for
mentally ill chemical "abusers": Background; influences; program description; preliminary findings.
Substance Use and Misuse 32(9):1217-1259, 1997.
Stevens, S.J., and Glider, P.J. Therapeutic communities: Substance abuse treatment for women. In:
F.M. Tims, G. DeLeon, and N. Jainchill (eds.), Therapeutic Community: Advances in Research and
Application, National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph 144, NIH Pub. No. 94-3633, U.S.
Government Printing Office, pp. 162-180, 1994.
Sullivan, C.J.; McKendrick, K.; Sacks, S.; and Banks, S.M. Modified therapeutic community for
offenders with MICA disorders: Substance use outcomes. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol
Abuse 33(6):823-832, 2007.
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Short-Term Residential Treatment
Short-term residential programs provide intensive but relatively brief treatment based on a modified
12-step approach. These programs were originally designed to treat alcohol problems, but during the
cocaine epidemic of the mid-1980s, many began to treat other types of substance use disorders. The
original residential treatment model consisted of a 3- to 6-week hospital-based inpatient treatment
phase followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in a self-help group, such as AA.
Following stays in residential treatment programs, it is important for individuals to remain engaged in
outpatient treatment programs and/or aftercare programs. These programs help to reduce the risk of
relapse once a patient leaves the residential setting.
Further Reading:
Hubbard, R.L.; Craddock, S.G.; Flynn, P.M.; Anderson, J.; and Etheridge, R.M. Overview of 1-year
follow-up outcomes in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). Psychology of Addictive
Behaviors 11(4):291-298, 1998.
Miller, M.M. Traditional approaches to the treatment of addiction. In: A.W. Graham and T.K. Schultz
(eds.), Principles of Addiction Medicine (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Society of Addiction
Medicine, 1998.
Outpatient Treatment Programs
Outpatient treatment varies in the types and intensity of services offered. Such treatment costs less
than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for people with jobs or extensive
social supports. It should be noted, however, that low-intensity programs may offer little more than
drug education. Other outpatient models, such as intensive day treatment, can be comparable to
residential programs in services and effectiveness, depending on the individual patient’s
characteristics and needs. In many outpatient programs, group counseling can be a major
component. Some outpatient programs are also designed to treat patients with medical or other
mental health problems in addition to their drug disorders.
Further Reading:
Page 27
Hubbard, R.L.; Craddock, S.G.; Flynn, P.M.; Anderson, J.; and Etheridge, R.M. Overview of 1-year
follow-up outcomes in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). Psychology of Addictive
Behaviors 11(4):291-298, 1998.
Institute of Medicine. Treating Drug Problems. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1990.
McLellan, A.T.; Grisson, G.; Durell, J.; Alterman, A.I.; Brill, P.; and O'Brien, C.P. Substance abuse
treatment in the private setting: Are some programs more effective than others? Journal of Substance
Abuse Treatment 10:243-254, 1993.
Simpson, D.D., and Brown, B.S. Treatment retention and follow-up outcomes in the Drug Abuse
Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS). Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 11(4):294-307, 1998.
Individualized Drug Counseling
Individualized drug counseling not only focuses on reducing or stopping illicit drug or alcohol use; it
also addresses related areas of impaired functioning—such as employment status, illegal activity, and
family/social relations—as well as the content and structure of the patient’s recovery program.
Through its emphasis on short-term behavioral goals, individualized counseling helps the patient
develop coping strategies and tools to abstain from drug use and maintain abstinence. The addiction
counselor encourages 12-step participation (at least one or two times per week) and makes referrals
for needed supplemental medical, psychiatric, employment, and other services.
Group Counseling
Many therapeutic settings use group therapy to capitalize on the social reinforcement offered by peer
discussion and to help promote drug-free lifestyles. Research has shown that when group therapy
either is offered in conjunction with individualized drug counseling or is formatted to reflect the
principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy or contingency management, positive outcomes are
achieved. Currently, researchers are testing conditions in which group therapy can be standardized
and made more community-friendly.
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Treating Criminal Justice-Involved Drug Abusers and Addicted
Individuals
Often, drug abusers come into contact with the criminal justice system earlier than other health or
social systems, presenting opportunities for intervention and treatment prior to, during, after, or in lieu
of incarceration. Research has shown that combining criminal justice sanctions with drug treatment
can be effective in decreasing drug abuse and related crime. Individuals under legal coercion tend to
stay in treatment longer and do as well as or better than those not under legal pressure. Studies show
that for incarcerated individuals with drug problems, starting drug abuse treatment in prison and
continuing the same treatment upon release—in other words, a seamless continuum of
services—results in better outcomes: less drug use and less criminal behavior. More information on
how the criminal justice system can address the problem of drug addiction can be found in
Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide
(National Institute on Drug Abuse, revised 2012).
Treating Criminal Justice-Involved Drug Abusers and
Addicted Individuals
Often, drug abusers come into contact with the criminal justice system earlier than other health or
social systems, presenting opportunities for intervention and treatment prior to, during, after, or in lieu
of incarceration. Research has shown that combining criminal justice sanctions with drug treatment
can be effective in decreasing drug abuse and related crime. Individuals under legal coercion tend to
stay in treatment longer and do as well as or better than those not under legal pressure. Studies show
that for incarcerated individuals with drug problems, starting drug abuse treatment in prison and
continuing the same treatment upon release—in other words, a seamless continuum of
services—results in better outcomes: less drug use and less criminal behavior. More information on
how the criminal justice system can address the problem of drug addiction can be found in
Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide
(National Institute on Drug Abuse, revised 2012).
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Evidence-Based Approaches to Drug Addiction Treatment
Each approach to drug treatment is designed to address certain aspects of
drug addiction and its consequences for the individual, family, and society.
This section presents examples of treatment approaches and components that have an evidence
base supporting their use. Each approach is designed to address certain aspects of drug addiction
and its consequences for the individual, family, and society. Some of the approaches are intended to
supplement or enhance existing treatment programs, and others are fairly comprehensive in and of
themselves.
The following section is broken down into Pharmacotherapies, Behavioral Therapies, and Behavioral
Therapies Primarily for Adolescents. They are further subdivided according to particular substance
use disorders. This list is not exhaustive, and new treatments are continually under development.
Pharmacotherapies
Opioid Addiction
Methadone
Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid agonist medication that can prevent withdrawal symptoms
and reduce craving in opioid-addicted individuals. It can also block the effects of illicit opioids. It has a
long history of use in treatment of opioid dependence in adults and is taken orally. Methadone
maintenance treatment is available in all but three States through specially licensed opioid treatment
programs or methadone maintenance programs.
Combined with behavioral treatment: Research has shown that methadone maintenance is more
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effective when it includes individual and/or group counseling, with even better outcomes when
patients are provided with, or referred to, other needed medical/psychiatric, psychological, and social
services (e.g., employment or family services).
Further Reading:
Dole, V.P.; Nyswander, M.; and Kreek, M.J. Narcotic blockade. Archives of Internal Medicine
118:304–309, 1966.
McLellan, A.T.; Arndt, I.O.; Metzger, D.; Woody, G.E.; and O’Brien, C.P. The effects of psychosocial
services in substance abuse treatment. The Journal of the American Medical Association
269(15):1953–1959, 1993.
The Rockerfeller University. The first pharmacological treatment for narcotic addiction: Methadone
maintenance. The Rockefeller University Hospital Centennial, 2010. Available at
centennial.rucares.org/index.php?page=Methadone_Maintenance.
Woody, G.E.; Luborsky, L.; McClellan, A.T.; O’Brien, C.P.; Beck, A.T.; Blaine, J.; Herman, I.; and
Hole, A. Psychotherapy for opiate addicts: Does it help? Archives of General Psychiatry 40:639–645,
1983.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid medication that acts as a partial agonist at opioid receptors—it
does not produce the euphoria and sedation caused by heroin or other opioids but is able to reduce or
eliminate withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid dependence and carries a low risk of overdose.
Buprenorphine is currently available in two formulations that are taken sublingually: (1) a pure form of
the drug and (2) a more commonly prescribed formulation called Suboxone, which combines
buprenorphine with the drug naloxone, an antagonist (or blocker) at opioid receptors. Naloxone has
no effect when Suboxone is taken as prescribed, but if an addicted individual attempts to inject
Suboxone, the naloxone will produce severe withdrawal symptoms. Thus, this formulation lessens the
likelihood that the drug will be abused or diverted to others.
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Buprenorphine treatment for detoxification and/or maintenance can be provided in office-based
settings by qualified physicians who have received a waiver from the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), allowing them to prescribe it. The availability of office-based treatment for
opioid addiction is a cost-effective approach that increases the reach of treatment and the options
available to patients.
Buprenorphine is also available as in an implant and injection. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved a 6-month subdermal buprenorphine implant in May 2016 and
a once-monthly buprenorphine injection in November 2017.
Further Reading:
Fiellin, D.A.; Pantalon, M.V.; Chawarski, M.C.; Moore, B.A.; Sullivan, L.E.; O’Connor, P.G.; and
Schottenfeld, R.S. Counseling plus buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance therapy for opioid
dependence. The New England Journal of Medicine 355(4):365–374, 2006.
Fudala P.J.; Bridge, T.P.; Herbert, S.; Williford, W.O.; Chiang, C.N.; Jones, K.; Collins, J.; Raisch, D.;
Casadonte, P.; Goldsmith, R.J.; Ling, W.; Malkerneker, U.; McNicholas, L.; Renner, J.; Stine, S.; and
Tusel, D. for the Buprenorphine/Naloxone Collaborative Study Group. Office-based treatment of
opiate addiction with a sublingual-tablet formulation of buprenorphine and naloxone. The New
England Journal of Medicine 349(10):949–958, 2003.
Kosten, T.R.; and Fiellin, D.A. U.S. National Buprenorphine Implementation Program: Buprenorphine
for office-based practice. Consensus conference overview. The American Journal on Addictions
13(Suppl. 1):S1–S7, 2004.
McCance-Katz, E.F. Office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid-dependent patients. Harvard
Review of Psychiatry 12(6):321–338, 2004.
Treatment, not Substitution
Because methadone and buprenorphine are themselves opioids, some people view these
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treatments for opioid dependence as just substitutions of one addictive drug for another (see
Question 19). But taking these medications as prescribed allows patients to hold jobs, avoid
street crime and violence, and reduce their exposure to HIV by stopping or decreasing injection
drug use and drug-related high-risk sexual behavior. Patients stabilized on these medications
can also engage more readily in counseling and other behavioral interventions essential to
recovery.
Naltrexone
Naltrexone is a synthetic opioid antagonist—it blocks opioids from binding to their receptors and
thereby prevents their euphoric and other effects. It has been used for many years to reverse opioid
overdose and is also approved for treating opioid addiction. The theory behind this treatment is that
the repeated absence of the desired effects and the perceived futility of abusing opioids will gradually
diminish craving and addiction. Naltrexone itself has no subjective effects following detoxification (that
is, a person does not perceive any particular drug effect), it has no potential for abuse, and it is not
addictive.
Naltrexone as a treatment for opioid addiction is usually prescribed in outpatient medical settings,
although the treatment should begin after medical detoxification in a residential setting in order to
prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Naltrexone must be taken orally—either daily or three times a week—but noncompliance with
treatment is a common problem. Many experienced clinicians have found naltrexone best suited for
highly motivated, recently detoxified patients who desire total abstinence because of external
circumstances—for instance, professionals or parolees. Recently, a long-acting injectable version of
naltrexone, called Vivitrol, was approved to treat opioid addiction. Because it only needs to be
delivered once a month, this version of the drug can facilitate compliance and offers an alternative for
those who do not wish to be placed on agonist/partial agonist medications.
Further Reading:
Cornish, J.W.; Metzger, D.; Woody, G.E.; Wilson, D.; McClellan, A.T.; and Vandergrift, B. Naltrexone
Page 33
pharmacotherapy for opioid dependent federal probationers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
14(6):529–534, 1997.
Gastfriend, D.R. Intramuscular extended-release naltrexone: current evidence. Annals of the New
York Academy of Sciences 1216:144–166, 2011.
Krupitsky, E.; Illerperuma, A.; Gastfriend, D.R.; and Silverman, B.L. Efficacy and safety of extended-
release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX) for the treatment of opioid dependence. Paper presented at
the 2010 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans, LA.
Comparing Buprenorphine and Naltrexone
A NIDA study comparing the effectiveness of a buprenorphine/naloxone combination and an
extended release naltrexone formulation on treating opioid use disorder has found that both
medications are similarly effective in treating opioid use disorder once treatment is initiated. Because
naltrexone requires full detoxification, initiating treatment among active opioid users was more difficult
with this medication. However, once detoxification was complete, the naltrexone formulation had a
similar effectiveness as the buprenorphine/naloxone combination.
Tobacco Addiction
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
A variety of formulations of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) now exist, including the
transdermal nicotine patch, nicotine spray, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenges. Because nicotine is
the main addictive ingredient in tobacco, the rationale for NRT is that stable low levels of nicotine will
prevent withdrawal symptoms—which often drive continued tobacco use—and help keep people
motivated to quit. Research shows that combining the patch with another replacement therapy is
more effective than a single therapy alone.
Bupropion (Zyban )®
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Bupropion was originally marketed as an antidepressant (Wellbutrin). It produces mild stimulant
effects by blocking the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters, especially norepinephrine and
dopamine. A serendipitous observation among depressed patients was that the medication was also
effective in suppressing tobacco craving, helping them quit smoking without also gaining weight.
Although bupropion’s exact mechanisms of action in facilitating smoking cessation are unclear, it has
FDA approval as a smoking cessation treatment.
Varenicline (Chantix )®
Varenicline is the most recently FDA-approved medication for smoking cessation. It acts on a subset
of nicotinic receptors in the brain thought to be involved in the rewarding effects of nicotine.
Varenicline acts as a partial agonist/antagonist at these receptors—this means that it midly stimulates
the nicotine receptor but not sufficiently to trigger the release of dopamine, which is important for the
rewarding effects of nicotine. As an antagonist, varenicline also blocks the ability of nicotine to
activate dopamine, interfering with the reinforcing effects of smoking, thereby reducing cravings and
supporting abstinence from smoking.
Combined With Behavioral Treatment
Each of the above pharmacotherapies is recommended for use in combination with behavioral
interventions, including group and individual therapies, as well as telephone quitlines. Behavioral
approaches complement most tobacco addiction treatment programs. They can amplify the effects of
medications by teaching people how to manage stress, recognize and avoid high-risk situations for
smoking relapse, and develop alternative coping strategies (e.g., cigarette refusal skills,
assertiveness, and time management skills) that they can practice in treatment, social, and work
settings. Combined treatment is urged because behavioral and pharmacological treatments are
thought to operate by different yet complementary mechanisms that can have additive effects.
Further Reading:
Alterman, A.I.; Gariti, P.; and Mulvaney, F. Short- and long-term smoking cessation for three levels of
intensity of behavioral treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 15:261-264, 2001.
Hall, S.M.; Humfleet, G.L.; Muñoz, R.F.; V.I; Prochaska, J.J.; and Robbins, J.A. Using extended
Page 35
cognitive behavioral treatment and medication to treat dependent smokers. American Journal of
Public Health 101:2349– 2356, 2011.
Jorenby, D.E.; Hays, J.T.; Rigotti, N.A.; Azoulay, S.; Watsky, E.J.; Williams, K.E.; Billing, C.B.; Gong,
J.; and Reeves, K.R. Varenicline Phase 3 Study Group. Efficacy of varenicline, an ?4?2 nicotinic
acetylcholine receptor partial agonist vs. placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking
cessation: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association
296(1):56–63, 2006.
King, D.P.; Paciqa, S.; Pickering, E.; Benowitz, N.L.; Bierut, L.J.; Conti, D.V.; Kaprio, J.; Lerman, C.;
and Park, P.W. Smoking cessation pharmacogenetics: Analysis of varenicline and bupropion in
placebo-controlled clinical trials. Neuropsychopharmacology 37:641–650, 2012.
Raupach, T.; and van Schayck, C.P. Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation: Current advances and
research topics. CNS Drugs 25:371–382, 2011.
Shah, S.D.; Wilken, L.A.; Winkler, S.R.; and Lin, S.J. Systematic review and meta-analysis of
combination therapy for smoking cessation. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association
48(5):659–665, 2008.
Smith, S.S; McCarthy, D.E.; Japuntich S.J.; Christiansen, B.; Piper, M.E.; Jorenby, D.E.; Fraser, D.L.;
Fiore, M.C.; Baker, T.B.; and Jackson, T.C. Comparative effectiveness of 5 smoking cessation
pharmacotherapies in primary care clinics. Archives of Internal Medicine 169:2148–2155, 2009.
Stitzer, M. Combined behavioral and pharmacological treatments for smoking cessation. Nicotine &
Tobacco Research 1:S181–S187, 1999.
Alcohol Addiction
Naltrexone
Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding effects of drinking and the
Page 36
craving for alcohol. It has been shown to reduce relapse to problem drinking in some patients. An
extended release version, Vivitrol—administered once a month by injection—is also FDA-approved
for treating alcoholism, and may offer benefits regarding compliance.
Acamprosate
Acamprosate (Campral ) acts on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate
neurotransmitter systems and is thought to reduce symptoms of protracted withdrawal, such as
insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria. Acamprosate has been shown to help dependent
drinkers maintain abstinence for several weeks to months, and it may be more effective in patients
with severe dependence.
®
Disulfiram
Disulfiram (Antabuse ) interferes with degradation of alcohol, resulting in the accumulation of
acetaldehyde, which, in turn, produces a very unpleasant reaction that includes flushing, nausea, and
plapitations if a person drinks alcohol. The utility and effectiveness of disulfiram are considered limited
because compliance is generally poor. However, among patients who are highly motivated, disulfiram
can be effective, and some patients use it episodically for high-risk situations, such as social
occasions where alcohol is present. It can also be administered in a monitored fashion, such as in a
clinic or by a spouse, improving its efficacy.
®
Topiramate
Topiramate is thought to work by increasing inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission and reducing
stimulatory (glutamate) neurotransmission, although its precise mechanism of action is not known.
Although topiramate has not yet received FDA approval for treating alcohol addiction, it is sometimes
used off-label for this purpose. Topiramate has been shown in studies to significantly improve multiple
drinking outcomes, compared with a placebo.
Combined With Behavioral Treatment
While a number of behavioral treatments have been shown to be effective in the treatment of alcohol
Page 37
addiction, it does not appear that an additive effect exists between behavioral treatments and
pharmacotherapy. Studies have shown that just getting help is one of the most important factors in
treating alcohol addiction; the precise type of treatment received is not as important.
Further Reading:
Anton, R.F.; O’Malley, S.S.; Ciraulo, D.A.; Cisler, R.A.; Couper, D.; Donovan, D.M.; Gastfriend, D.R.;
Hosking, J.D.; Johnson, B.A.; LoCastro, J.S.; Longabaugh, R.; Mason, B.J.; Mattson, M.E.; Miller,
W.R.; Pettinati, H.M.; Randall, C.L.; Swift, R.; Weiss, R.D.; Williams, L.D.; and Zweben, A., for the
COMBINE Study Research Group. Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for
alcohol dependence: The COMBINE study: A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the
American Medical Association 295(17):2003–2017, 2006.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A
Clinician’s Guide, Updated 2005 Edition. Bethesda, MD: NIAAA, updated 2005. Available at
pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/clinicians_guide.htm
Behavioral Therapies
Behavioral approaches help engage people in drug abuse treatment, provide incentives for them to
remain abstinent, modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse, and increase their life
skills to handle stressful circumstances and environmental cues that may trigger intense craving for
drugs and prompt another cycle of compulsive abuse. Below are a number of behavioral therapies
shown to be effective in addressing substance abuse (effectiveness with particular drugs of abuse is
denoted in parentheses).
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana,
Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Nicotine)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed as a method to prevent relapse when treating
Page 38
problem drinking, and later it was adapted for cocaine-addicted individuals. Cognitive-behavioral
strategies are based on the theory that in the development of maladaptive behavioral patterns like
substance abuse, learning processes play a critical role. Individuals in CBT learn to identify and
correct problematic behaviors by applying a range of different skills that can be used to stop drug
abuse and to address a range of other problems that often co-occur with it.
A central element of CBT is anticipating likely problems and enhancing patients’ self-control by
helping them develop effective coping strategies. Specific techniques include exploring the positive
and negative consequences of continued drug use, self-monitoring to recognize cravings early and
identify situations that might put one at risk for use, and developing strategies for coping with cravings
and avoiding those high-risk situations.
Research indicates that the skills individuals learn through cognitive-behavioral approaches remain
after the completion of treatment. Current research focuses on how to produce even more powerful
effects by combining CBT with medications for drug abuse and with other types of behavioral
therapies. A computer-based CBT system has also been developed and has been shown to be
effective in helping reduce drug use following standard drug abuse treatment.
Further Reading:
Carroll, K.M., Easton, C.J.; Nich, C.; Hunkele, K.A.; Neavins, T.M.; Sinha, R.; Ford, H.L.; Vitolo, S.A;
Doebrick, C.A.; and Rounsaville, B.J. The use of contingency management and motivational/skills-
building therapy to treat young adults with marijuana dependence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology 74(5):955–966, 2006.
Carroll, K.M.; and Onken, L.S. Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. The American Journal of
Psychiatry 168(8):1452–1460, 2005.
Carroll, K.M.; Sholomskas, D.; Syracuse, G.; Ball, S.A.; Nuro, K.; and Fenton, L.R. We don’t train in
vain: A dissemination trial of three strategies of training clinicians in cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 73(1):106–115, 2005.
Carroll, K.; Fenton, L.R.; Ball, S.A.; Nich, C.; Frankforter, T.L.; Shi,J.; and Rounsaville, B.J. Efficacy of
disulfiram and cognitive behavior therapy in cocaine-dependent outpatients: A randomized placebo-
Page 39
controlled trial. Archives of General Psychiatry 61(3):264–272, 2004.
Carroll, K.M.; Ball, S.A.; Martino, S.; Nich, C.; Babuscio, T.A.; Nuro, K.F.; Gordon, M.A.; Portnoy,
G.A.; and Rounsaville, B.J. Computer-assisted delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy for addiction: a
randomized trial of CBT4CBT. The American Journal of Psychiatry 165(7):881–888, 2008.
Contingency Management Interventions/Motivational
Incentives (Alcohol, Stimulants, Opioids, Marijuana,
Nicotine)
Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of treatment approaches using contingency
management (CM) principles, which involve giving patients tangible rewards to reinforce positive
behaviors such as abstinence. Studies conducted in both methadone programs and psychosocial
counseling treatment programs demonstrate that incentive-based interventions are highly effective in
increasing treatment retention and promoting abstinence from drugs.
Voucher-Based Reinforcement (VBR) augments other community-based treatments for adults who
primarily abuse opioids (especially heroin) or stimulants (especially cocaine) or both. In VBR, the
patient receives a voucher for every drug-free urine sample provided. The voucher has monetary
value that can be exchanged for food items, movie passes, or other goods or services that are
consistent with a drug-free lifestyle. The voucher values are low at first, but increase as the number of
consecutive drug-free urine samples increases; positive urine samples reset the value of the vouchers
to the initial low value. VBR has been shown to be effective in promoting abstinence from opioids and
cocaine in patients undergoing methadone detoxification.
Prize Incentives CM applies similar principles as VBR but uses chances to win cash prizes instead of
vouchers. Over the course of the program (at least 3 months, one or more times weekly), participants
supplying drug-negative urine or breath tests draw from a bowl for the chance to win a prize worth
between $1 and $100. Participants may also receive draws for attending counseling sessions and
completing weekly goal-related activities. The number of draws starts at one and increases with
consecutive negative drug tests and/or counseling sessions attended but resets to one with any drug-
Page 40
positive sample or unexcused absence. The practitioner community has raised concerns that this
intervention could promote gambling—as it contains an element of chance—and that pathological
gambling and substance use disorders can be comorbid. However, studies examining this concern
found that Prize Incentives CM did not promote gambling behavior.
Further Reading:
Budney, A.J.; Moore, B.A.; Rocha, H.L.; and Higgins, S.T. Clinical trial of abstinence-based vouchers
and cognitivebehavioral therapy for cannabis dependence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology 74(2):307–316, 2006.
Budney, A.J.; Roffman, R.; Stephens, R.S.; and Walker, D. Marijuana dependence and its treatment.
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 4(1):4–16, 2007.
Elkashef, A.; Vocci, F.; Huestis, M.; Haney, M.; Budney, A.; Gruber, A.; and el-Guebaly, N. Marijuana
neurobiology and treatment. Substance Abuse 29(3):17–29, 2008.
Peirce, J.M.; Petry, N.M.; Stitzer, M.L.; Blaine, J.; Kellogg, S.; Satterfield, F.; Schwartz, M.;
Krasnansky, J.; Pencer, E.; Silva-Vazquez, L.; Kirby, K.C.; Royer-Malvestuto, C.; Cohen, A.;
Copersino, M.L.; Kolodner, K.; and Li, R. Effects of lower-cost incentives on stimulant abstinence in
methadone maintenance treatment: A National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network study.
Archives of General Psychiatry 63(2):201–208, 2006.
Petry, N.M.; Peirce, J.M.; Stitzer, M.L.; Blaine, J.; Roll, J.M.; Cohen, A.; Obert, J.; Killeen, T.; Saladin,
M.E.; Cowell, M.; Kirby, K.C.; Sterling, R.; Royer-Malvestuto, C.; Hamilton, J.; Booth, R.E.;
Macdonald, M.; Liebert, M.; Rader, L.; Burns, R; DiMaria, J.; Copersino, M.; Stabile, P.Q.; Kolodner,
K.; and Li, R. Effect of prizebased incentives on outcomes in stimulant abusers in outpatient
psychosocial treatment programs: A National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network study.
Archives of General Psychiatry 62(10):1148–1156, 2005.
Petry, N.M.; Kolodner, K.B.; Li, R.; Peirce, J.M.; Roll, J.M.; Stitzer, M.L.; and Hamilton, J.A. Prize-
based contingency management does not increase gambling. Drug and Alcohol Dependence
83(3):269–273, 2006.
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Prendergast, M.; Podus, D.; Finney, J.; Greenwell, L.; and Roll, J. Contingency management for
treatment of substance use disorders: A meta-analysis. Addiction 101(11):1546–1560, 2006.
Roll, J.M.; Petry, N.M.; Stitzer, M.L.; Brecht, M.L.; Peirce, J.M.; McCann, M.J.; Blaine, J.; MacDonald,
M.; DiMaria, J.; Lucero, L.; and Kellogg, S. Contingency management for the treatment of
methamphetamine use disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry 163(11):1993–1999, 2006.
Community Reinforcement Approach Plus Vouchers
(Alcohol, Cocaine, Opioids)
Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) Plus Vouchers is an intensive 24-week outpatient
therapy for treating people addicted to cocaine and alcohol. It uses a range of recreational, familial,
social, and vocational reinforcers, along with material incentives, to make a non-drug-using lifestyle
more rewarding than substance use. The treatment goals are twofold:
To maintain abstinence long enough for patients to learn new life skills to help sustain it; and
To reduce alcohol consumption for patients whose drinking is associated with cocaine use
Patients attend one or two individual counseling sessions each week, where they focus on improving
family relations, learn a variety of skills to minimize drug use, receive vocational counseling, and
develop new recreational activities and social networks. Those who also abuse alcohol receive clinic-
monitored disulfiram (Antabuse) therapy. Patients submit urine samples two or three times each week
and receive vouchers for cocaine-negative samples. As in VBR, the value of the vouchers increases
with consecutive clean samples, and the vouchers may be exchanged for retail goods that are
consistent with a drug-free lifestyle. Studies in both urban and rural areas have found that this
approach facilitates patients’ engagement in treatment and successfully aids them in gaining
substantial periods of cocaine abstinence.
A computer-based version of CRA Plus Vouchers called the Therapeutic Education System (TES)
was found to be nearly as effective as treatment administered by a therapist in promoting abstinence
from opioids and cocaine among opioid-dependent individuals in outpatient treatment. A version of
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CRA for adolescents addresses problem-solving, coping, and communication skills and encourages
active participation in positive social and recreational activities.
Further Reading:
Brooks, A.C.; Ryder, D.; Carise, D.; and Kirby, K.C. Feasibility and effectiveness of computer-based
therapy in community treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 39(3):227–235, 2010.
Higgins, S.T.; Sigmon, S.C.; Wong, C.J.; Heil, S.H.; Badger, G.J.; Donham, R.; Dantona, R.L.; and
Anthony, S. Community reinforcement therapy for cocaine-dependent outpatients. Archives of
General Psychiatry 60(10):1043–1052, 2003.
Roozen, H.G.; Boulogne, J.J.; van Tulder, M.W.; van den Brink, W.; De Jong, C.A.J.; and Kerhof,
J.F.M. A systemic review of the effectiveness of the community reinforcement approach in alcohol,
cocaine and opioid addiction. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 74(1):1–13, 2004.
Silverman, K.; Higgins, S.T.; Brooner, R.K.; Montoya, I.D.; Cone, E.J.; Schuster, C.R.; and Preston,
K.L. Sustained cocaine abstinence in methadone maintenance patients through voucher-based
reinforcement therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry 53(5):409–415, 1996.
Smith, J.E.; Meyers, R.J.; and Delaney, H.D. The community reinforcement approach with homeless
alcohol-dependent individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 66(3):541–548, 1998.
Stahler, G.J.; Shipley, T.E.; Kirby, K.C.; Godboldte, C.; Kerwin, M.E; Shandler, I.; and Simons, L.
Development and initial demonstration of a community-based intervention for homeless, cocaine-
using, African-American women. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 28(2):171–179, 2005.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana,
Nicotine)
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is a counseling approach that helps individuals resolve
their ambivalence about engaging in treatment and stopping their drug use. This approach aims to
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evoke rapid and internally motivated change, rather than guide the patient stepwise through the
recovery process. This therapy consists of an initial assessment battery session, followed by two to
four individual treatment sessions with a therapist. In the first treatment session, the therapist provides
feedback to the initial assessment, stimulating discussion about personal substance use and eliciting
self-motivational statements. Motivational interviewing principles are used to strengthen motivation
and build a plan for change. Coping strategies for high-risk situations are suggested and discussed
with the patient. In subsequent sessions, the therapist monitors change, reviews cessation strategies
being used, and continues to encourage commitment to change or sustained abstinence. Patients
sometimes are encouraged to bring a significant other to sessions.
Research on MET suggests that its effects depend on the type of drug used by participants and on
the goal of the intervention. This approach has been used successfully with people addicted to
alcohol to both improve their engagement in treatment and reduce their problem drinking. MET has
also been used successfully with marijuana-dependent adults when combined with cognitive-
behavioral therapy, constituting a more comprehensive treatment approach. The results of MET are
mixed for people abusing other drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine, nicotine) and for adolescents who tend to
use multiple drugs. In general, MET seems to be more effective for engaging drug abusers in
treatment than for producing changes in drug use.
Further Reading:
Baker, A.; Lewin, T.; Reichler, H.; Clancy, R.; Carr, V.; Garrett, R.; Sly, K.; Devir, H.; and Terry, M.
Evaluation of a motivational interview for substance use with psychiatric in-patient services. Addiction
97(10):1329-1337, 2002.
Haug, N.A.; Svikis, D.S.; and Diclemente, C. Motivational enhancement therapy for nicotine
dependence in methadone-maintained pregnant women. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
18(3):289-292, 2004.
Marijuana Treatment Project Research Group. Brief treatments for cannabis dependence: Findings
from a randomized multisite trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 72(3):455-466, 2004.
Miller, W.R.; Yahne, C.E.; and Tonigan, J.S. Motivational interviewing in drug abuse services: A
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randomized trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 71(4):754-763, 2003.
Stotts, A.L.; Diclemente, C.C.; and Dolan-Mullen, P. One-to-one: A motivational intervention for
resistant pregnant smokers. Addictive Behaviors 27(2):275-292, 2002.
The Matrix Model (Stimulants)
The Matrix Model provides a framework for engaging stimulant (e.g., methamphetamine and cocaine)
abusers in treatment and helping them achieve abstinence. Patients learn about issues critical to
addiction and relapse, receive direction and support from a trained therapist, and become familiar with
self-help programs. Patients are monitored for drug use through urine testing.
The therapist functions simultaneously as teacher and coach, fostering a positive, encouraging
relationship with the patient and using that relationship to reinforce positive behavior change. The
interaction between the therapist and the patient is authentic and direct but not confrontational or
parental. Therapists are trained to conduct treatment sessions in a way that promotes the patient’s
self-esteem, dignity, and self-worth. A positive relationship between patient and therapist is critical to
patient retention.
Treatment materials draw heavily on other tested treatment approaches and, thus, include elements
of relapse prevention, family and group therapies, drug education, and self-help participation. Detailed
treatment manuals contain worksheets for individual sessions; other components include family
education groups, early recovery skills groups, relapse prevention groups, combined sessions, urine
tests, 12-step programs, relapse analysis, and social support groups.
A number of studies have demonstrated that participants treated using the Matrix Model show
statistically significant reductions in drug and alcohol use, improvements in psychological indicators,
and reduced risky sexual behaviors associated with HIV transmission.
Further Reading:
Huber, A.; Ling, W.; Shoptaw, S.; Gulati, V.; Brethen, P.; and Rawson, R. Integrating treatments for
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methamphetamine abuse: A psychosocial perspective. Journal of Addictive Diseases 16(4):41-50,
1997.
Rawson, R.; Shoptaw, S.J.; Obert, J.L.; McCann, M.J.; Hasson, A.L.; Marinelli-Casey, P.J.; Brethen,
P.R.; and Ling, W. An intensive outpatient approach for cocaine abuse: The Matrix model. Journal of
Substance Abuse Treatment 12(2):117-127, 1995.
Rawson, R.A.; Huber, A.; McCann, M.; Shoptaw, S.; Farabee, D.; Reiber, C.; and Ling, W. A
comparison of contingency management and cognitive-behavioral approaches during methadone
maintenance treatment for cocaine dependence. Archives of General Psychiatry 59(9):817-824, 2002.
12-Step Facilitation Therapy (Alcohol, Stimulants, Opiates)
Twelve-step facilitation therapy is an active engagement strategy designed to increase the likelihood
of a substance abuser becoming affiliated with and actively involved in 12-step self-help groups,
thereby promoting abstinence. Three key ideas predominate: (1) acceptance, which includes the
realization that drug addiction is a chronic, progressive disease over which one has no control, that
life has become unmanageable because of drugs, that willpower alone is insufficient to overcome the
problem, and that abstinence is the only alternative; (2) surrender, which involves giving oneself over
to a higher power, accepting the fellowship and support structure of other recovering addicted
individuals, and following the recovery activities laid out by the 12-step program; and (3) active
involvement in 12-step meetings and related activities. While the efficacy of 12-step programs (and 12-
step facilitation) in treating alcohol dependence has been established, the research on its usefulness
for other forms of substance abuse is more preliminary, but the treatment appears promising for
helping drug abusers sustain recovery.
Further Reading:
Carroll, K.M.; Nich, C.; Ball, S.A.; McCance, E.; Frankforter, T.L.; and Rounsaville, B.J. One-year
follow-up of disulfiram and psychotherapy for cocaine-alcohol users: Sustained effects of treatment.
Addiction 95(9):1335-1349, 2000.
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Donovan D.M., and Wells E.A. "Tweaking 12-step": The potential role of 12-Step self-help group
involvement in methamphetamine recovery. Addiction 102(Suppl. 1):121-129, 2007.
Project MATCH Research Group. Matching alcoholism treatments to client heterogeneity: Project
MATCH posttreatment drinking outcomes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 58(1)7-29, 1997.
Family Behavior Therapy
Family Behavior Therapy (FBT), which has demonstrated positive results in both adults and
adolescents, is aimed at addressing not only substance use problems but other co-occurring
problems as well, such as conduct disorders, child mistreatment, depression, family conflict, and
unemployment. FBT combines behavioral contracting with contingency management.
FBT involves the patient along with at least one significant other such as a cohabiting partner or a
parent (in the case of adolescents). Therapists seek to engage families in applying the behavioral
strategies taught in sessions and in acquiring new skills to improve the home environment. Patients
are encouraged to develop behavioral goals for preventing substance use and HIV infection, which
are anchored to a contingency management system. Substance-abusing parents are prompted to set
goals related to effective parenting behaviors. During each session, the behavioral goals are
reviewed, with rewards provided by significant others when goals are accomplished. Patients
participate in treatment planning, choosing specific interventions from a menu of evidence-based
treatment options. In a series of comparisons involving adolescents with and without conduct
disorder, FBT was found to be more effective than supportive counseling.
Further Reading:
Azrin, N.H.; Donohue, B.; Besalel, V.A.; Kogan, E.S.; and Acierno, R. Youth drug abuse treatment: a
controlled outcome study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse 3:1–16, 1994.
Carroll, K.M.; and Onken, L.S. Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry
168(8):1452–1460, 2005.
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Donohue, B.; Azrin, N.; Allen, D.N.; Romero, V.; Hill, H.H.; Tracy, K.; Lapota, H.; Gorney, S.; Abdel-al,
R.; Caldas, D.; Herdzik, K.; Bradshaw, K.; Valdez, R.; and Van Hasselt, V.B. Family Behavior Therapy
for substance abuse: A review of its intervention components and applicability. Behavior Modification
33:495–519, 2009.
LaPota, H.B.; Donohue, B.; Warren, C. S.; and Allen, D.N. Integration of a Healthy Living curriculum
within Family Behavior Therapy: A clinical case example in a woman with a history of domestic
violence, child neglect, drug abuse, and obesity. Journal of Family Violence 26:227–234, 2011.
Behavioral Therapies Primarily for Adolescents
Drug-abusing and addicted adolescents have unique treatment needs. Research has shown that
treatments designed for and tested in adult populations often need to be modified to be effective in
adolescents. Family involvement is a particularly important component for interventions targeting
youth. Below are examples of behavioral interventions that employ these principles and have shown
efficacy for treating addiction in youth.
Multisystemic Therapy
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) addresses the factors associated with serious antisocial behavior in
children and adolescents who abuse alcohol and other drugs. These factors include characteristics of
the child or adolescent (e.g., favorable attitudes toward drug use), the family (poor discipline, family
conflict, parental drug abuse), peers (positive attitudes toward drug use), school (dropout, poor
performance), and neighborhood (criminal subculture). By participating in intensive treatment in
natural environments (homes, schools, and neighborhood settings), most youths and families
complete a full course of treatment. MST significantly reduces adolescent drug use during treatment
and for at least 6 months after treatment. Fewer incarcerations and out-of-home juvenile placements
offset the cost of providing this intensive service and maintaining the clinicians’ low caseloads.
Further Reading:
Henggeler, S.W.; Clingempeel, W.G.; Brondino, M.J.; and Pickrel, S.G. Four-year follow-up of
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multisystemic therapy with substance-abusing and substance-dependent juvenile offenders.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 41(7):868-874, 2002.
Henggeler, S.W.; Rowland, M.D.; Randall, J.; Ward, D.M.; Pickrel, S.G.; Cunningham, P.B.; Miller,
S.L.; Edwards, J.; Zealberg, J.J.; Hand, L.D.; and Santos, A.B. Home-based multisystemic therapy as
an alternative to the hospitalization of youths in psychiatric crisis: Clinical outcomes. Journal of the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 38(11):1331-1339, 1999.
Henggeler, S.W.; Halliday-Boykins, C.A.; Cunningham, P.B.; Randall, J.; Shapiro, S.B.; and
Chapman, J.E. Juvenile drug court: Enhancing outcomes by integrating evidence-based treatments.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 74(1):42–54, 2006.
Henggeler, S.W.; Pickrel, S.G.; Brondino, M.J.; and Crouch, J.L. Eliminating (almost) treatment
dropout of substance-abusing or dependent delinquents through home-based multisystemic therapy.
The American Journal of Psychiatry 153(3):427–428, 1996.
Huey, S.J.; Henggeler, S.W.; Brondino, M.J.; and Pickrel, S.G. Mechanisms of change in
multisystemic therapy: Reducing delinquent behavior through therapist adherence and improved
family functioning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 68(3):451–467, 2000.
Multidimensional Family Therapy
Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) for adolescents is an outpatient, family-based treatment for
teenagers who abuse alcohol or other drugs. MDFT views adolescent drug use in terms of a network
of influences (individual, family, peer, community) and suggests that reducing unwanted behavior and
increasing desirable behavior occur in multiple ways in different settings. Treatment includes
individual and family sessions held in the clinic, in the home, or with family members at the family
court, school, or other community locations.
During individual sessions, the therapist and adolescent work on important developmental tasks, such
as developing decision-making, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Teenagers acquire vocational
skills and skills in communicating their thoughts and feelings to deal better with life stressors. Parallel
sessions are held with family members. Parents examine their particular parenting styles, learning to
distinguish influence from control and to have a positive and developmentally appropriate influence on
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their children.
Further Reading:
Dennis, M.; Godley, S.H.; Diamond, G.; Tims, F.M.; Babor, T.; Donaldson, J.; Liddle, H.; Titus, J.C.;
Kaminer, Y.; Webb, C.; Hamilton, N.; and Funk, R. The Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) Study: Main
findings from two randomized clinical trials. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 27(3):197-213,
2004.
Liddle, H.A.; Dakof, G.A.; Parker, K.; Diamond, G.S.; Barrett, K;, and Tejeda, M. Multidimensional
family therapy for adolescent drug abuse: Results of a randomized clinical trial. The American Journal
of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 27(4):651-688, 2001.
Liddle, H.A., and Hogue, A. Multidimensional family therapy for adolescent substance abuse. In E.F.
Wagner and H.B. Waldron (eds.), Innovations in Adolescent Substance Abuse Interventions. London:
Pergamon/Elsevier Science, pp. 227-261, 2001.
Liddle, H.A.; Rowe, C.L.; Dakof, G.A.; Ungaro, R.A.; and Henderson, C.E. Early intervention for
adolescent substance abuse: Pretreatment to posttreatment outcomes of a randomized clinical trial
comparing multidimensional family therapy and peer group treatment. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
36(1):49-63, 2004.
Schmidt, S.E.; Liddle, H.A.; and Dakof, G.A. Effects of multidimensional family therapy: Relationship
of changes in parenting practices to symptom reduction in adolescent substance abuse. Journal of
Family Psychology 10(1):1-16, 1996.
Brief Strategic Family Therapy
Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) targets family interactions that are thought to maintain or
exacerbate adolescent drug abuse and other co-occurring problem behaviors. Such problem
behaviors include conduct problems at home and at school, oppositional behavior, delinquency,
associating with antisocial peers, aggressive and violent behavior, and risky sexual behavior. BSFT is
based on a family systems approach to treatment, in which family members’ behaviors are assumed
to be interdependent such that the symptoms of one member (the drug-abusing adolescent, for
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example) are indicative, at least in part, of what else is occurring in the family system. The role of the
BSFT counselor is to identify the patterns of family interaction that are associated with the
adolescent’s behavior problems and to assist in changing those problem-maintaining family patterns.
BSFT is meant to be a flexible approach that can be adapted to a broad range of family situations in
various settings (mental health clinics, drug abuse treatment programs, other social service settings,
and families’ homes) and in various treatment modalities (as a primary outpatient intervention, in
combination with residential or day treatment, and as an aftercare/continuing-care service following
residential treatment).
Further Reading:
Coatsworth, J.D.; Santisteban, D.A.; McBride, C.K.; and Szapocznik, J. Brief Strategic Family
Therapy versus community control: Engagement, retention, and an exploration of the moderating role
of adolescent severity. Family Process 40(3):313-332, 2001.
Kurtines, W.M.; Murray, E.J.; and Laperriere, A. Efficacy of intervention for engaging youth and
families into treatment and some variables that may contribute to differential effectiveness. Journal of
Family Psychology 10(1):35–44, 1996.
Santisteban, D.A.; Coatsworth, J.D.; Perez-Vidal, A.; Mitrani, V.; Jean-Gilles, M.; and Szapocznik, J.
Brief Structural/Strategic Family Therapy with African- American and Hispanic high-risk youth.
Journal of Community Psychology 25(5):453-471, 1997.
Santisteban, D.A.; Suarez-Morales, L.; Robbins, M.S.; and Szapocznik, J. Brief strategic family
therapy: Lessons learned in efficacy research and challenges to blending research and practice.
Family Process 45(2):259-271, 2006.
Santisteban, D.A.; Szapocznik, J.; Perez-Vidal, A.; Mitrani, V.; Jean-Gilles, M.; and Szapocznik, J.
Brief Structural/Strategic Family Therapy with African-American and Hispanic high-risk youth.
Journal of Community Psychology 25(5):453–471, 1997.
Szapocznik, J., et al. Engaging adolescent drug abusers and their families in treatment: A strategic
structural systems approach. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 56(4):552-557, 1988.
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Functional Family Therapy
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is another treatment based on a family systems approach, in which
an adolescent’s behavior problems are seen as being created or maintained by a family’s
dysfunctional interaction patterns. FFT aims to reduce problem behaviors by improving
communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and parenting skills. The intervention always
includes the adolescent and at least one family member in each session. Principal treatment tactics
include (1) engaging families in the treatment process and enhancing their motivation for change and
(2) bringing about changes in family members’ behavior using contingency management techniques,
communication and problem-solving, behavioral contracts, and other behavioral interventions.
Further Reading:
Waldron, H.B.; Slesnick, N.; Brody, J.L.; Turner, C.W.; and Peterson, T.R. Treatment outcomes for
adolescent substance abuse at 4- and 7-month assessments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology 69:802–813, 2001.
Waldron, H.B.; Turner, C. W.; and Ozechowski, T. J. Profiles of drug use behavior change for
adolescents in treatment. Addictive Behaviors 30:1775–1796, 2005.
Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach and Assertive
Continuing Care
The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) is another comprehensive substance
abuse treatment intervention that involves the adolescent and his or her family. It seeks to support the
individual’s recovery by increasing family, social, and educational/vocational reinforcers. After
assessing the adolescent’s needs and levels of functioning, the therapist chooses from among 17 A-
CRA procedures to address problem-solving, coping, and communication skills and to encourage
active participation in positive social and recreational activities. A-CRA skills training involves role-
playing and behavioral rehearsal.
Assertive Continuing Care (ACC) is a home-based continuing-care approach to preventing relapse.
Weekly home visits take place over a 12- to 14-week period after an adolescent is discharged from
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residential, intensive outpatient, or regular outpatient treatment. Using positive and negative
reinforcement to shape behaviors, along with training in problem-solving and communication skills,
ACC combines A-CRA and assertive case management services (e.g., use of a multidisciplinary team
of professionals, round-the-clock coverage, assertive outreach) to help adolescents and their
caregivers acquire the skills to engage in positive social activities.
Further Reading:
Dennis, M.; Godley, S.H.; Diamond, G.; Tims, F.M.; Babor, T.; Donaldson, J.; Liddle, H.; Titus, J.C.;
Kamier, Y.; Webb, C.; Hamilton, N.; and Funk R. The Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) Study: Main
findings from two randomized trials. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 27:197–213, 2004.
Godley, S.H.; Garner, B.R.; Passetti, L.L.; Funk, R.R.; Dennis, M.L.; and Godley, M.D. Adolescent
outpatient treatment and continuing care: Main findings from a randomized clinical trial. Drug and
Alcohol Dependence Jul 1;110 (1-2):44–54, 2010.
Godley, M.D.; Godley, S.H.; Dennis, M.L.; Funk, R.; and Passetti, L.L. Preliminary outcomes from the
assertive continuing care experiment for adolescents discharged from residential treatment.
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 23:21–32, 2002.
Acknowledgments
The National Institute on Drug Abuse wishes to thank the following individuals for reviewing this
publication.
Martin W. Adler, Ph.D.
Temple University School of Medicine
Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical University of South Carolina
Greg Brigham, Ph.D.
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Maryhaven, Inc.
Kathleen M. Carroll, Ph.D.
Yale University School of Medicine
Richard R. Clayton, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky
Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D.
Washington University School of Medicine
David P. Friedman, Ph.D.
Wake Forest University
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Reese T. Jones, M.D.
University of California at San Francisco
Nancy K. Mello, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School
William R. Miller, Ph.D.
University of New Mexico
Charles P. O’Brien, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Jeffrey Selzer, M.D.
Zucker Hillside Hospital
Eric J. Simon, Ph.D.
New York University
Langone Medical Center
Jose Szapocznik, Ph.D.
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University of Miami
Miller School of Medicine
George Woody, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Resources
National Agencies
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) leads the Nation in scientific research on the health
aspects of drug abuse and addiction. It supports and conducts research across a broad range of
disciplines, including genetics, functional neuroimaging, social neuroscience, prevention, medication
and behavioral therapies, and health services. It then disseminates the results of that research to
significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and
addiction. Additional information is available at drugabuse.gov or by calling 301-443-1124.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides leadership in the national
effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by conducting and supporting research in a wide range of
scientific areas, including genetics, neuroscience, epidemiology, health risks and benefits of alcohol
consumption, prevention, and treatment; coordinating and collaborating with other research institutes
and Federal programs on alcohol-related issues; collaborating with international, national, State, and
local institutions, organizations, agencies, and programs engaged in alcohol-related work; and
translating and disseminating research findings to healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers,
and the public. Additional information is available at www.niaaa.nih.gov or by calling 301-443-3860.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The mission of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and
treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention,
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recovery, and cure. In support of this mission, NIMH generates research and promotes research
training to fulfill the following four objectives: (1) promote discovery in the brain and behavioral
sciences to fuel research on the causes of mental disorders; (2) chart mental illness trajectories to
determine when, where, and how to intervene; (3) develop new and better interventions that
incorporate the diverse needs and circumstances of people with mental illnesses; and (4) strengthen
the public health impact of NIMH-supported research. Additional information is available at
nimh.nih.gov or by calling 301-443-4513.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), a part of the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is responsible for supporting treatment services through a
block grant program, as well as disseminating findings to the field and promoting their adoption. CSAT
also operates the 24-hour National Treatment Referral Hotline (1-800-662-HELP), which offers
information and referral services to people seeking treatment programs and other assistance. CSAT
publications are available through SAMHSA's Store (store.samhsa.gov). Additional information about
CSAT can be found on SAMHSA's Web site at www.samhsa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/offices-
centers/csat.
Selected NIDA Educational Resources on Drug Addiction
Treatment
The following are available from the NIDA DrugPubs Research Dissemination Center, the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS), or the Government Printing Office (GPO). To order, refer to the
DrugPubs (877-NIDANIH [643-2644]), NTIS (1-800-553-6847), or GPO (202-512-1800) number
provided with the resource description.
Blending products. NIDA's Blending Initiative—a joint venture with SAMHSA and its nationwide
network of Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs)—uses "Blending Teams" of community
practitioners, SAMHSA trainers, and NIDA researchers to create products and devise strategic
dissemination plans for them. Completed products include those that address the value of
buprenorphine therapy and onsite rapid HIV testing in community treatment programs; strategies for
treating prescription opioid dependence; and the need to enhance healthcare workers' proficiency in
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using tools such as the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), motivational interviewing, and motivational
incentives. For more information on Blending products, please visit NIDA's Web site at
archives.drugabuse.gov/nidasamhsa-blending-initiative.
Addiction Severity Index. Provides a structured clinical interview designed to collect information
about substance use and functioning in life areas from adult clients seeking drug abuse treatment. For
more information on using the ASI and to obtain copies of the most recent edition, please visit
https://eprovide.mapi-trust.org/instruments/addiction-severity-index.
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction (Reprinted 2010). This publication
provides an overview of the science behind the disease of addiction. Publication #NIH 10-5605.
Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction.
Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide
(Revised 2012). Provides 13 essential treatment principles and includes resource information and
answers to frequently asked questions. NIH Publication No.: 11-5316. Available online at
drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations-research-
based-guide.
NIDA DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction (Revised 2009). This is a fact sheet
covering research findings on effective treatment approaches for drug abuse and addiction. Available
online at drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drugaddiction.
Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinicians's guide (published by NIAAA). This booklet
is written for primary care and mental health clinicians and provides guidance in screening and
managing alcohol-dependent patients. Available online at
pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/clinicians_guide.htm.
Research Report Series: Therapeutic Community (2002). This report provides information on the
role of residential drug-free settings and their role in the treatment process. NIH Publication #02-4877.
Available online at drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-community.
Initiatives Designed to Move Treatment Research into Practice
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Clinical Trials Network
Assessing the real-world effectiveness of evidence-based treatments is a crucial step in bringing
research to practice. Established in 1999, NIDA’s National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials
Network (CTN) uses community settings with diverse patient populations and conditions to adjust and
test protocols to meet the practical needs of addiction treatment. Since its inception, the CTN has
tested pharmacological and behavioral interventions for drug abuse and addiction, along with
common co-occurring conditions (e.g., HIV and PTSD) among various target populations, including
adolescent drug abusers, pregnant drug-abusing women, and Spanish-speaking patients. The CTN
has also tested prevention strategies in drug-abusing groups at high risk for HCV and HIV and has
become a key element of NIDA’s multipronged approach to move promising science-based drug
addiction treatments rapidly into community settings. For more information on the CTN, please visit
drugabuse.gov/CTN.
Criminal Justice-Drug Abuse Treatment Studies
NIDA is taking an approach similar to the CTN to enhance treatment for drug-addicted individuals
involved with the criminal justice system through Criminal Justice–Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-
DATS). Whereas NIDA’s CTN has as its overriding mission the improvement of the quality of drug
abuse treatment by moving innovative approaches into the larger community, research supported
through CJ-DATS is designed to effect change by bringing new treatment models into the criminal
justice system and thereby improve outcomes for offenders with substance use disorders. It seeks to
achieve better integration of drug abuse treatment with other public health and public safety forums
and represents a collaboration among NIDA; SAMHSA; the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC); Department of Justice agencies; and a host of drug treatment, criminal justice, and
health and social service professionals.
Blending Teams
Another way in which NIDA is seeking to actively move science into practice is through a joint venture
with SAMHSA and its nationwide network of Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs). This
process involves the collaborative efforts of community treatment practitioners, SAMHSA trainers, and
NIDA researchers, some of whom form "Blending Teams" to create products and devise strategic
dissemination plans for them. Through the creation of products designed to foster adoption of new
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treatment strategies, Blending Teams are instrumental in getting the latest evidence-based tools and
practices into the hands of treatment professionals. To date, a number of products have been
completed. Topics have included increasing awareness of the value of buprenorphine therapy and
enhancing healthcare workers' proficiency in using tools such as the ASI, motivational interviewing,
and motivational incentives. For more information on Blending products, please visit NIDA’s Web site
at archives.drugabuse.gov/nidasamhsa-blending-initiative.
Other Federal Resources
NIDA DrugPubs Research Dissemination Center. NIDA publications and treatment materials are
available from this information source. Staff provide assistance in English and Spanish, and have
TTY/TDD capability. Phone: 877-NIDA-NIH (877-643-2644); TTY/TDD: 240-645-0228; fax: 240-645-
0227; e-mail: drugpubs@nida.nih.gov; Web site: drugpubs.drugabuse.gov.
The National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. This database of
interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders is maintained
by SAMHSA and can be accessed at www.samhsa.gov/nrepp.
SAMHSA's Store has a wide range of products, including manuals, brochures, videos, and other
publications. Phone: 800-487-4889; Web site: store.samhsa.gov.
The National Institute of Justice. As the research agency of the Department of Justice, the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) supports research, evaluation, and demonstration programs relating
to drug abuse in the context of crime and the criminal justice system. For information, including a
wealth of publications, contact the National Criminal Justice Reference Service at 800-851-3420 or
301-519-5500; or visit nij.gov.
Clinical Trials. For more information on federally and privately supported clinical trials, please visit
clinicaltrials.gov.
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This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA.
Citation of the source is appreciated, using the following language: Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse;
National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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