Evidence-based treatment: Why, what, where, when, and how?

Received 19 May 2005; received in revised form 29 July 2005; accepted 10 August 2005.

Abstract

Research and clinical perspectives are blended in this commentary on the rapidly emerging requirement for evidence-based treatment (EBT) in substance abuse programs. Although, historically, it has not been a standard of care in behavioral health, there are sound scientific, ethical, and compassionate reasons to learn and deliver an EBT as it becomes available. This article explores a series of issues, including the following: (1) Why should EBTs be used in substance abuse treatment? (2) What kinds of treatment are EBTs, and how are they determined? (3) Where can EBTs be implemented—at what levels of service delivery? (4) When should EBTs be used? and (5) How do clinicians learn EBTs? Potential pitfalls in implementing EBTs are also considered.

Keywords: Treatment, Evidence, Efficacy, Effectiveness, Policy

a Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161, USA

b Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161, USA

c 14th Street Clinic and East Bay Community Recovery Project, Oakland, CA, USA

d University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

Corresponding author. Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161, USA. Tel.: +1 505 925 2378; fax: +1 505 925 2379.

PII: S0740-5472(05)00169-8

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2005.08.003

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