Treatment/Intervention Definitions

Outpatient Treatment

In an outpatient program the youth attends counseling or other activities on a regular basis while living at home.

Inpatient Treatment

The youth lives away from home either in a hospital setting or in a facility that is solely for the purpose of treatment of addictions. Often this type of facility is called "residential."

Residential Therapeutic Community

These are highly structured programs in which patients stay at a residence typically for 6-12 months. This type of treatment is indicated for people who have long histories of drug dependence or involvement in serious criminal activities. Methadone maintenance is usually more successful at retaining clients with opiate dependence. This type of treatment is usually outpatient and patients are given an oral dose of synthetic opiate, usually methadone, in a dosage sufficient to block the effects of the opiate, yet maintain a stable non-euphoric state free from the physiological cravings. This is a transition program that allows the patient to seek appropriate counseling and social services.

Support Groups

Support groups are designed to provide social and emotional support for those people that are breaking an addiction. Support groups are also helpful for family members and others that have been effected by the addictive behavior.

Twelve-Step Programs

Twelve-step programs, most notably Alcoholics Anonymous, are self-help, non- counseling or therapy support groups that have been recognized as successful in maintaining sobriety or a drug-free lifestyle. These programs are based on 12 steps that were originated in the 1940s by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous.