Collaborative Care Models Prove Beneficial for Addiction Treatment

It is true that not every person is the same, and each case of addiction treatment is unique in its own way. Some people have health issues related to their addiction while others might suffer from a co-occurring mental health disorder that will affect recovery efforts. Because of this, it is helpful to treat the entire person in an addiction treatment program and not ignore these other factors. A new study just released in JAMA Internal Medicine confirms that collaborative care is a beneficial model for addiction treatment.

Study Proves Benefits of Collaborative Care Model for Addiction Treatment

The JAMA Internal Medicine study concluded that integrating substance abuse treatment with regular medical care and therapy can improve the outcomes for people with opioid and/or alcohol use disorders (OAUD). The study was conducted by the RAND Corporation and consisted of 377 primary care patients with OAUD who sought treatment in two clinics between 2014 and 2016.

During the study, approximately half of the patients were randomly sent to collaborative care addiction treatment programs while the others were given standard care. The study concluded that, at six months, a higher proportion of participants that received collaborative care treatment (32.8 percent vs. 22.3 percent) remained abstinent from alcohol and opioids.

What Exactly is a Collaborative Treatment Model?

In this particular study, collaborative care consisted of a system of intervention for each patient. This included access to such things as medication-assisted treatment and psychotherapy. During the study, patients in the collaborative care program were assigned a case manager who assessed each patient’s situation, motivation and need for services. The case manager then encouraged patients to access available treatment. They also provided monitoring and follow-up services. In contrast, those in the non-collaborative care group were simply provided with information about treatment and a phone number to call, with no follow-up. It is little surprise that many of these patients (83 percent) did not receive any treatment at all.

Overcoming Addiction Through Personalized Addiction Treatment

If you or loved ones are struggling with addiction, there is a good chance that there are also some other underlying issues. The most effective way to treat substance abuse is with an individualized treatment plan that addresses the whole person instead of one that simply focuses on the drug and alcohol issue in isolation.

The Recovery Village offers an advanced approach to substance abuse treatment that combines therapy, medical care, and wellness programs which treat the whole person. Clients are given access to top of the line medical care for detox as well as the support required to make important life changes. Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation at admission which includes a thorough clinical, medical, and nutritional assessment. Patients are assessed with medical and lab tests as well as psychological and psychiatric evaluations. Clients with co-occurring psychiatric or medical conditions are given the care they need while in a treatment environment.

The Recovery Village’s multidisciplinary approach to substance abuse has shown great success, and that is now backed up by a study proving the effectiveness of a collaborative addiction treatment program. Contact one of our addiction specialists now to learn about admissions or to discuss any other questions about our addiction treatment services.