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Researchers Identify Seven Core Evidence Practices for Substance Use Disorders
Consensus building to identify indicators of evidence-based substance abuse treatment
The National Quality Forum (NQF) convened a workshop on December 13, 2004 on evidence-based practices for treating substance use disorders.
The NQF sought to identify and recommend a set of evidence-based treatment practices that should receive the highest priority for widespread implementation.
Key Recommendations
Workshop participants identified seven core, evidence-based practices that should receive a high priority for widespread implementation:
- Universal screening by a health care provider for alcohol misuse.
- Brief intervention for harmful/hazardous users for all patients with a positive screen.
- Evidence-based psychosocial treatment interventions for persons with diagnosable conditions.
- Active and ongoing consideration of addiction-related pharmacotherapy in the assessment of every patient for alcohol and opioid dependence. This pharmacotherapy should be used in conjunction with psychosocial treatment.
- Continual assessment with problem/service matching in specialty settings.
- Initial engagement and retention in specialty care, through active outreach, case monitoring, contracting, regular (at least quarterly) follow-up and linkages with primary care.
- Ongoing recovery management with a health care provider.
Funding
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) sponsored this workshop with a $102,451 grant (May 2004–March 2005).