What Is Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment?

Hope Trust has grown phenomenally since inception in 2002. This growth is not in capacity (the rehab still has a high client-to-counsellor ratio by retaining a limited size), but in constantly growing in therapy approach. This is achieved by continual innovation.

In the beginning, the addiction treatment was more 12-step cantered. However, the it was found that the program was like a one-size-fits-all treatment approach, lacking in biomedical and psychological components.

Gradually, the approach became evidence-based practice, with individualized care and a holistic perspective. It incorporated diverse, but related resources, such as CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy, psychiatry, pharmacology, Yoga and mindfulness. This was in the best interest of the clients.

Hope Trust therapists visited and invited treatment providers from the world over. They studied the methodology adopted by leading and experienced rehabs in US, UK, Thailand and Singapore. They found that the claimed effectiveness of various approaches was based on anecdotal reports by clients, their families, doctors, researches and counsellors. Unlike other areas of healthcare, addiction treatment was vast and varied. The vast majority of individuals seeking, or being forced into, treatment is not getting the care that is aligned with evidence-based practice.

Another finding was that culture plays a vital role in addiction treatment. It was found that the therapists have to in sync with the cultural context of the client, which was also lacking. For instance, an Indian origin person getting treatment in US or UK is mostly alienated by the difference in family and social dynamics between the client and the counsellor.

What is evidence-based Treatment?

A frequently-quoted definition comes from a 1996 article in the BMJ Medical Journal, defines evidence-based a “means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.” Other definitions also include the patient’s individual circumstances, preferences, expectations, culture, experiences and values.

What is Addiction?

In most countries, addiction is still treated more as a crime or a moral shortcoming, than as a chronic illness or disorder. An effective addiction treatment program will view addiction, or substance use disorder (SUD), as a chronic medical condition that is relapse-prone, progressive and has genetic components. It severely affects all those who are close to the addict. Often, it occurs with other mental health issues. An appropriate treatment should encompass all these, and more, elements.

What Is Successful Addiction Treatment?

Since addiction affects all areas of the individual – physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual – an effective approach should address all these areas. Moreover, since addiction is highly relapse-prone, a relapse-prevention plan and structured aftercare are essential components of effective addiction treatment program. It is also useful to look at the effects of the individual’s addiction on his or her family, and address related issues with a concurrent family support program.

The ultimate goal is beyond abstinence – to improve the quality of life of the affected individual.

Holistic Care

In evidence-based practice, the treatment process individualizes care and uses a holistic approach to determine what combination of resources will work best for a particular patient. The combination of treatment tools may include psychological, psychiatric, pharmacological and spiritual components. The approach also takes into consideration that social and cultural background of the individual. A range of psychological assessment tools are sometimes used to diagnose any co-occurring or underlying mental health or personality issues involved in the case. A strong family support program addresses the co-dependency issues of family members and aftercare plan is put in place, to take care of upcoming challenges in early recovery.

A proven treatment program

Hope Trust rehab has evolved an integrated evidence-based addiction treatment program that has evolved over the years and is continually honed with experience and cutting-edge current knowledge that is accessed through international affiliations.

Since 2002, Hope Trust has grown from pioneer to leader. Hundreds of clients from all over the world have found freedom from addiction, with the help of a highly effective addiction treatment program that is safe, effective and confidential.