NCJ Number
189308
Date Published
November 2000
Length
54 pages
Annotation
This document presents a set of guidelines and recommendations drawn from the work of individuals who participated in hearings on improving substance abuse treatment.
Abstract
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) began the National Treatment Plan Initiative (NTP) to build on recent advances in this field, bring together the best ideas about improving treatment, and identify actions that could translate knowledge into practice. Five expert panels, representing a diversity of knowledge, experience, and views, considered previous reports and recommendations, then focused on what should be done next. The first step in improving treatment is to change the way the substance abuse treatment field and the Nation consider and address treatment issues. In order to attain the goal of ensuring appropriate care to those who need it, adequate resources, effective service systems, and higher standards of treatment are prerequisites. Recommendations for using adequate resources include closing gaps in treatment capacity; aligning financing and reimbursement mechanisms; establishing standard insurance benefits for both public and private insurance; and setting reimbursement rates and funding levels to cover reasonable costs of providing care. In order to establish effective service systems it is recommended that appropriate assessment, referral, and treatment is required and maintained, and a commonly accepted and evidence-based model for the continuum of services is applied. Recommendations for higher standards of treatment include: establishing a system that effectively connects services and research; developing commonly accepted standards for the treatment field; and attracting, supporting, and maintaining a high quality, diverse workforce. Significant reduction in stigma and changes in attitude, along with effective efforts by those in the substance abuse treatment field to work with each other are also recommended. Bibliography and glossary.