Facing Addiction in America: Chapter 7 - Vision for the Future

Course overview

The problems caused by substance misuse are not limited to substance use disorders, but include many other possible health and safety problems that can result from substance misuse even in the absence of a disorder. Prevention programs and policies that are based on sound evidence-based principles have been shown to reduce substance misuse and related harms significantly. Evidence-based behavioral and medication-assisted treatments (MAT) applied using a chronic- illness-management approach have been shown to facilitate recovery from substance use disorders, prevent relapse, and improve other outcomes, such as reducing criminal behavior and the spread of infectious diseases. A chronic-illness-management approach may be needed to treat the most severe substance use disorders.