Transferring psychological technology into substance abuse treatment: Substance abuse as a psychiatric illness

Abstract

A model of transferring psychological technology into substance abuse treatment programs based on viewing substance abuse as a psychiatric illness and treating it as such is presented. This theoretical framework integrates disparate technical developments, such as relapse prevention, harm reduction, motivational interviewing/motivational enhancement, and contingency management. Implications for treatment and outcome measurement are described, and an example of how one program used this model is presented.

• Technology transfer
• substance abuse treatment
• outcome measurement
• harm reduction
• relapse prevention