The three missing elements in the treatment of substance use disorders: Lessons from the physician health programs.
To make recovery, and not relapse, the expected outcome of the treatment of moderate to severe substance use disorders, 3 currently missing elements would need to be emphasized: (1) the definition of long-term recovery as the goal of all treatment and post-treatment interventions; (2) the provision of sustained post-treatment monitoring and professional and peer support, including drug testing; and (3) the insistence by others around the patients on sustained abstinence as crucial for those suffering from moderate to severe and prolonged substance use disorders. Each of these 3 elements is central to the distinctive care management system of the state physician health programs. This approach to the long-term management of substance use disorders fits with the new direction of healthcare for serious, chronic diseases-away from isolated, and expensive acute care episodes of care and toward sustained chronic disease management with long-term monitoring, support, and early re-intervention if and when needed.
a Institute for Behavior and Health Inc. , Rockville , Maryland , USA.
Robert L
RL
DuPont
b Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation , Center City , Minnesota , USA.
Marvin D
MD
Seppala
c Chestnut Health Systems , Punta Gorda , Florida , USA.
William L
WL
White
D006801:Humans; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*
Substance use disorder treatment; care management; physician health programs